Molokaʻi Offshore Islet Seabird Sanctuaries

Molokaʻi Offshore Islet Seabird Sanctuaries

webpage header of Molokaʻi islets

Table of Contents

  1. Mokuhoʻoniki Islet Seabird Sanctuary
  2. Kanaha Rock Islet Seabird Sanctuary
  3. Mokumanu Islet Seabird Sanctuary
  4. Huelo Islet Seabird Sanctuary
  5. Okala Islet Seabird Sanctuary
  6. Mokapu Islet Seabird Sanctuary

webpage header of Mokuhoʻoniki islet

Mokuhoʻoniki Islet Seabird Sanctuary

Description

Mokuhoʻoniki Islet Seabird Sanctuary is a 10-acre islet off the coast of East Molokaʻi. This islet is also nearby another seabird sanctuary, Kanaha Rock Islet Seabird Sanctuary. Mokuhoʻoniki Islet is one of six seabird sanctuary islets managed by the Division of Forestry and Wildlife. Mokuhoʻoniki also goes by the nickname “Elephant Island” due to its resemblance to an elephant from an aerial view. Due to its status as a seabird sanctuary, this islet is closed to the public.

Mokuhoʻoniki Islet is home to roughly 31 plant species, nine of which are endemic. This islet also protects four different seabird species such as: Koaʻe ʻUla (Red-tailed Tropic Bird), ʻOu (Bulwer’s Petrel), ʻUaʻu (Hawaiian Dark-Rumped Petrel), ʻUaʻu Kani (Wedge-Tailed Shearwater).

Activities

None. 

Permits & Rules

  • This sanctuary is CLOSED, per administrative rules Chapter 126 (Wildlife Sanctuaries).
  • Commercial activities are prohibited.
  • Other activities (like scientific research, conservation management, or subsistence, traditional, and customary practices by Native Hawaiians consistent with the long-term preservation of the wildlife sanctuary resources) may be possible with a permit. Individuals interested in permits should review the detailed information on our Permits & Guidelines page and contact their local DOFAW office.

Some Native Plants & Animals 

These are examples of native species associated with this site. This is not intended to be a comprehensive species inventory. 

image of flying bird

Koaʻeʻkea

(Phaethon lepturus)

image of bird flying

ʻOu

(Bulweria bulwerii)

ʻUaʻu

(Pterodroma sandwichensis)

image of bird

ʻUaʻu kani

(Ardenna pacifica)


webpage header of kanaha rock islet

Kanaha Rock Islet Seabird Sanctuary

Description

Kanaha Rock Islet Seabird Sanctuary is a 1-acre islet off the coast of West Molokaʻi. This islet used to be connected to Mokuhoʻoniki Islet. Kanaha Rock Islet is one of six islets distinguished as a seabird sanctuary and is managed by the Division of Forestry and Widlife (DOFAW). Kanaha Rock is home to 29 plant species, 9 of which are endemic to the state. The ʻUaʻu Kani (Wedge-tailed Shearwater) also inhabits this islet as the main and only seabird on Kanaha Rock. Due to its status as a seabird sanctuary, Kana Rock Islet is closed to the public.

Activities

None. 

Permits & Rules

  • This sanctuary is CLOSED, per administrative rules Chapter 126 (Wildlife Sanctuaries).
  • Commercial activities are prohibited.
  • Other activities (like scientific research, conservation management, or subsistence, traditional, and customary practices by Native Hawaiians consistent with the long-term preservation of the wildlife sanctuary resources) may be possible with a permit. Individuals interested in permits should review the detailed information on our Permits & Guidelines page and contact their local DOFAW office.

Some Native Plants & Animals 

These are examples of native species associated with this site. This is not intended to be a comprehensive species inventory. 

image of bird

ʻUaʻu kani

(Ardenna pacifica)

   

 


webpage header of mokumanu islet

Mokumanu Islet Seabird Sanctuary

Description

Mokumanu Seabird Sanctuary is a 1-acre off the shore of Pelekunu Bay on Molokaʻi. Mokumanu islet is one of six islets that is protected as a seabird sanctuary and managed by the Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW). Mokumanu Islet is inhabited by 17 plant species, 5 of which are endemic. The main seabird that inhabits Mokumanu islet is Koaʻeʻula (Red-tailed Tropicbird). Due to its status as a seabird sanctuary, Mokumanu islet is closed to the public. 

Activities

None

Permits & Rules

  • This sanctuary is CLOSED, per administrative rules Chapter 126 (Wildlife Sanctuaries).
  • Commercial activities are prohibited.
  • Other activities (like scientific research, conservation management, or subsistence, traditional, and customary practices by Native Hawaiians consistent with the long-term preservation of the wildlife sanctuary resources) may be possible with a permit. Individuals interested in permits should review the detailed information on our Permits & Guidelines page and contact their local DOFAW office.

Some Native Plants & Animals 

These are examples of native species associated with this site. This is not intended to be a comprehensive species inventory. 

image of bird flying

Koaʻeʻula

(Phaethon rubricauda)

     

webpage header of huelo islet

Huelo Islet Seabird Sanctuary

Description

Huelo Islet Seabird Sanctuary is a small 1-acre islet off the coast of Molokaʻi near Kalawao. This islet is roughly 197-feet in elevation. Huelo Islet is considered one of the most botanically significant islet in the Hawaiian chain, being home to roughly 42 plant species (16 of which are endemic). 

Huelo Islet is one of six seabird sanctuary islets around the island of Molokaʻi. The primary seabird that calls this islet home is the ʻUaʻu Kani (Wedge-tailed Shearwater). Due to its status as a seabird sanctuary, Huelo islet is closed to the public.

Activities

None

Permits & Rules

  • This sanctuary is CLOSED, per administrative rules Chapter 126 (Wildlife Sanctuaries).
  • Commercial activities are prohibited.
  • Other activities (like scientific research, conservation management, or subsistence, traditional, and customary practices by Native Hawaiians consistent with the long-term preservation of the wildlife sanctuary resources) may be possible with a permit. Individuals interested in permits should review the detailed information on our Permits & Guidelines page and contact their local DOFAW office.

Some Native Plants & Animals 

These are examples of native species associated with this site. This is not intended to be a comprehensive species inventory. 

image of bird

ʻUaʻu kani

(Ardenna pacifica)

   

 

Photos


Okala Islet Seabird Sanctuary

Description

Okala Islet Seabird Sanctuary is a 5-acre islet off the coast of Moloka’i near Kalawao. Okala Islet Seabird Sanctuary is one of six seabird sanctuary islets that is protected by the Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW) around Moloka’i. Okala islet is also the tallest of the Moloka’i islets at 394-feet of elevation. As a result, early Hawaiians living near the peninsula would often swim out to Okala islet to jump off of. Okala islet is home to around 59 plant species, 15 of which are endemic. The vegetation is on the islet is primarily a mixed native shrubland. Now due to its’ status as a seabird sanctuary, Okala islet is closed to the public.

Activities

None. 

Permits & Rules

  • This sanctuary is CLOSED, per administrative rules Chapter 126 (Wildlife Sanctuaries).
  • Commercial activities are prohibited.
  • Other activities (like scientific research, conservation management, or subsistence, traditional, and customary practices by Native Hawaiians consistent with the long-term preservation of the wildlife sanctuary resources) may be possible with a permit. Individuals interested in permits should review the detailed information on our Permits & Guidelines page and contact their local DOFAW office.

Some Native Plants & Animals

Plant & animal information for our DOFAW-managed areas will be coming soon.


webpage header of mokapu islet

Mokapu Islet Seabird Sanctuary

Description

Mokapu Islet Seabird Sanctuary is an 11-acre islet on the north side of Molokaʻi off the coast of Kalawao. This islet is also in close proximity to Okala Islet Seabird Sanctuary and Huelo Islet Seabird Sanctuary. This small islet is 360 feet above sea level and provides one of the best native coastal plant habitats in the state as a home to 29 different native plant species. Not only is Mokapu islet home to these 29 native plant species, but it is also a habitat to many seabird species such as: Iwa (Great Frigatebird), Noio  (Black Noddy), Koaʻeʻkea (White-tailed Tropicbird), Koaʻe’ʻula (Red-tailed Tropicbird), ʻOu (Bulwer’s Petrel), ʻUaʻu Kani (Wedge-tailed Shearwater), and ʻA (Red-footed Booby). As a result, this islet is recognized as a seabird sanctuary and is closed to the public.

Activities

None

Permits & Rules

  • This sanctuary is CLOSED, per administrative rules Chapter 126 (Wildlife Sanctuaries).
  • Commercial activities are prohibited.
  • Other activities (like scientific research, conservation management, or subsistence, traditional, and customary practices by Native Hawaiians consistent with the long-term preservation of the wildlife sanctuary resources) may be possible with a permit. Individuals interested in permits should review the detailed information on our Permits & Guidelines page and contact their local DOFAW office.

Some Native Plants & Animals 

These are examples of native species associated with this site. This is not intended to be a comprehensive species inventory. 

ʻIwa

(Fregata minor)

image of bird

Noio (Black noddy)

(Anous minutus)

image of flying bird

Koaʻeʻkea

(Phaethon lepturus)

image of bird flying

Koaʻeʻula

(Phaethon rubricauda)

image of bird flying

ʻOu

(Bulweria bulwerii)

image of bird

ʻUaʻu kani

(Ardenna pacifica)

photo of red footed booby

ʻĀ (Red-Footed Booby)

(Sula sula)

 

Photos