East Island, Hawaii

East Island is a low-lying island in the French Frigate Shoals, part of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, located approximately northwest of Honolulu. Formerly measuring around in area, the island was about long and wide prior to 2018. Following the passage of Hurricane Walaka that year, the island was largely eroded, leaving a remaining above-water sandbar approximately in length. However, East Island began to naturally reform following the storm and, by 2024, had regained approximately 60% of its pre-storm size.

Composed primarily of sand and gravel, East Island is part of the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument. It served as a significant habitat for the endangered Hawaiian monk seal (''Neomonachus schauinslandi'') and green sea turtle (''Chelonia mydas''). The French Frigate Shoals account for 96% of green sea turtle nesting in Hawaii, with East Island supporting over half of those nests. The island has been described by researchers from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) as a critical nesting site for the species.

History

In the 19th century, East Island was occasionally referred to as "Turtle Island." It was surveyed as part of the Tanager Expedition in 1923 and 1924.

In 1932, the '' USS Quail'' conducted operations near East Island, including aerial photography of the surrounding shoals using a seaplane. In 1935, a temporary encampment was established on the island to support naval maneuvers involving ships and seaplanes. In October 1936, the '' USS Wright'' established a base on East Island to facilitate a month-long series of seaplane operations.

During World War II, East Island was selected as a site for a U.S. Coast Guard Long-Range Navigation (LORAN) station. Construction began in July 1944, and the station operated from November 1944 to October 1952. In April 1946, the facility sustained damage from a tsunami, and in August 1950, personnel temporarily evacuated the island due to a typhoon warning. The station comprised 13 buildings, including barracks, a mess hall, radio and generator huts, and support structures such as water tanks, antennas, and a distillation shed.

By the 1980s, East Island was recognized as a pupping site for Hawaiian monk seals. In the late 20th century, it became a significant nesting ground for green sea turtles, with over 500 nests reported in 1997.

2018 hurricane and partial submergence

In early October 2018, East Island was significantly impacted by Hurricane Walaka, a Category 4 storm that passed directly over the French Frigate Shoals. The storm produced a strong storm surge that caused substantial coastal erosion. As a result, the majority of East Island’s landmass was washed away, leaving only a small strip of sand above sea level.

The event was characterized in media reports as the "sinking" or destruction of the island, though the process was primarily one of overwash and sediment displacement rather than complete submersion. Satellite imagery confirmed that the pre-existing footprint of the island had been reduced to a fraction of its original size. The loss of land raised concerns among conservationists due to the island's ecological importance, particularly for nesting green sea turtles and pupping monk seals.

Despite the damage, researchers observed that parts of the island remained above water and had begun to stabilize by 2023. This allowed limited field access for scientific study, although operations were based from nearby Tern Island due to the reduced land area on East Island itself.

Post-storm recovery

Following its destruction by Hurricane Walaka in October 2018, East Island has partially reemerged and recovered approximately 60% of its pre-storm land area. Although it remains low-lying and vulnerable to future overwash, its reappearance has been noted by researchers as an indicator of limited natural recovery within a changing climate system. Prior to the storm, East Island had existed for an estimated 2,200 years.

Geography

East Island is located within the French Frigate Shoals, a crescent-shaped atoll in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, approximately northwest of Honolulu. Prior to 2018, the island measured roughly in length and in width, with a total area of approximately . It was composed primarily of sand and gravel and sat only a few feet above sea level, making it highly susceptible to overwash and erosion from storms.

Following the passage of Hurricane Walaka in 2018, most of the island was eroded, leaving a narrow strip of sand approximately long. The island remains part of the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument and is one of several low-lying features within the atoll.

Ecological significance

East Island has played a critical ecological role within the French Frigate Shoals and the broader Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. As part of the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument, the island served as an important habitat for several federally protected species, including the Hawaiian monk seal (''Neomonachus schauinslandi'') and the green sea turtle (''Chelonia mydas''), both listed as endangered under the U.S. Endangered Species Act.

The French Frigate Shoals are the primary nesting site for green sea turtles in the Hawaiian Islands, accounting for approximately 96% of the state’s total nesting activity. East Island alone supported more than half of these nests, making it the most significant single site for green sea turtle reproduction in the region. Nesting activity typically occurred during the summer months, with females coming ashore to lay eggs in the island’s sandy substrate. In 1997, over 500 turtle nests were recorded on East Island.

In addition to turtles, East Island was identified as a pupping site for Hawaiian monk seals. The island’s isolation and low elevation made it a suitable environment for undisturbed birthing and nursing of seal pups. The sandy beaches and absence of human habitation for most of the year contributed to its suitability as a breeding site. More than 200 endangered Hawaiian monk seals inhabit the French Frigate Shoals, while approximately 1,400 individuals remain statewide.

East Island also supported populations of seabirds, including species of albatrosses. These birds nested on the island and relied on its open, sandy terrain for breeding. However, nesting seabirds and their chicks were vulnerable to predation by tiger sharks (''Galeocerdo cuvier''), which were known to patrol the waters surrounding the island. The sharks often preyed on young birds.

Following the 2018 destruction of most of East Island by Hurricane Walaka, researchers expressed uncertainty about how wildlife would respond to the loss of habitat. According to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) scientist Dr. Charles Littnan, green sea turtles may attempt to nest on other nearby islands in subsequent seasons. However, there remains the possibility that East Island could gradually reaccumulate sand and partially reform. In satellite imagery taken after the storm, some Hawaiian monk seals were already observed hauling out on the remaining 150-foot stretch of sand, suggesting that wildlife may begin to reoccupy the site despite its diminished size.

References

External links

Life on East Island

{{Authority control

Northwestern Hawaiian Islands
Coral islands
French Frigate Shoals
October 2018 in Oceania
2018 in Hawaii
Islands of Hawaii
Sea level