Northwestern Hawaiian Islands

The Northwestern Hawaiian Islands are a remote chain of reefs, atolls and small islands extending northwest from the main Hawaiian Islands and forming the northwestern portion of the Hawaiian archipelago. They are ecologically important and largely protected within the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument.

The chain includes roughly 30 features stretching about 1,200 miles (circa 1,900 kilometres) and supports major seabird colonies, nesting sea turtles and vast marine habitats. Several islands contain archaeological remains and sites of cultural significance to Native Hawaiians.

European and American charting of individual islands occurred in the 18th and 19th centuries; in the 20th and 21st centuries the area has been progressively set aside for conservation and scientific research. It was designated as a U.S. national monument and later inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Geographically the islands run northwest from the main Hawaiian Islands toward the International Date Line, forming the most remote inhabited and uninhabited parts of U.S. territory; the chain includes well-known places such as Midway Atoll, Kure Atoll, Laysan and French Frigate Shoals.

• Protection status: Administered as part of the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument and listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with strict access controls and permit requirements.
• Scale and extent: The island chain stretches roughly 1,200 miles (about 1,900 kilometres) northwest from the main Hawaiian Islands and comprises around 30 islands, atolls and reefs.
• Historic site: Contains Midway Atoll, the site of the 1942 Battle of Midway and today both a historic site and wildlife refuge.

What to See #

• Midway Atoll: Site of the 1942 World War II naval and air battle that marked a turning point in the Pacific theater and now contains a national wildlife refuge and memorial areas.
• Kure Atoll: The northernmost atoll in the chain and one of the most remote coral atolls in the world, important for seabird and marine life.
• Laysan Island: A low sand-and-dune island that supports one of the largest seabird colonies in the Hawaiian chain and important nesting habitat for endemic species.
• French Frigate Shoals: Shallow reef and lagoon system that supports turtles, sharks and diverse reef fish; historically important as a navigational feature for Polynesians and later mariners.
• Nihoa and Mokumanamana (Necker): Small volcanic islands with archaeological evidence of early Hawaiian voyaging and ritual use; culturally significant to Native Hawaiians.