Pearl and Hermes Atoll

Pearl and Hermes Atoll is an uninhabited coral atoll in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, located in the central Pacific and administered by the United States. It lies within the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument and forms part of the chain of remote atolls and reefs northwest of the main Hawaiian Islands.

The atoll consists of a ring of low islets and sandbanks surrounding a central lagoon and supports coral reef communities, seabird colonies, and marine life. There are no permanent residents and the environment is managed for conservation and scientific research.

European and American mariners visited and charted the atoll in the 19th century, and in modern times it was incorporated into the Papahānaumokuākea protected area when the monument was established in 2006 and expanded in 2016. Management of the atoll involves NOAA, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and other agencies to protect its cultural and natural values.

The atoll lies hundreds of miles northwest of the main Hawaiian Islands and is accessible only by expedition vessel or by permitted government operations.

• Protection status: Part of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands and managed within the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument, access is restricted and typically requires permits for scientific or cultural visits.
• Ecology: The atoll is uninhabited and supports coral reef ecosystems and important seabird and marine mammal habitats.