East Island, Hawaii

East Island is a former island, formerly about 11 acres (45,000 m2) in area, one-half mile (800 m) long and 400 feet (120 m) wide.[1] It was the second-largest in the French Frigate Shoals, and one of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, approximately 550 miles (890 km) northwest of Honolulu.[2] It was largely washed away in 2018 by the storm surge from Hurricane Walaka.[2][3] The remaining portion of the island above sea level consists of a sandy strip approximately 150 feet (46 m) long.[4]

Hawaiian monk seal
A green sea turtle swimming above a Hawaiian coral reef
East Island
Satellite images of East Island, Hawaii, before (May 2018) and after (October 2018) Hurricane Walaka
Geography
Coordinates23°47′14″N 166°12′35″W
ArchipelagoFrench Frigate Shoals
Adjacent bodies of waterPacific Ocean
Area11 acres (4.5 ha)
Length0.5 mi (0.8 km)
Width400 ft (120 m)
CountryUnited States
StateHawaii
CountyHonolulu County
Demographics
Population0 (since 1952)

The island, a sand and gravel spit that formed part of the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument, was a habitat for Hawaiian monk seals and green sea turtles, both of which are endangered species.[2] 96% of Hawaii's green sea turtles nest in the French Frigate Shoals, and over half of those were on East Island.[2] Charles Littnan, of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, described the island as "the most important single islet for [green] sea turtle nesting".[2]

From November 1944 to October 1952 the U.S. Coast Guard maintained a LORAN radio navigation station on the island.[5] In April 1946 it was badly damaged by a tsunami, and in August 1950 it had to be evacuated due to a typhoon warning.[5]

References
  1. Milman, Oliver (October 24, 2018). "Hawaiian island erased by powerful hurricane: 'The loss is a huge blow'". the Guardian. Retrieved October 29, 2018.
  2. Eagle, Nathan (October 23, 2018). "This Remote Hawaiian Island Just Vanished". Honolulu Civil Beat. Retrieved October 23, 2018.
  3. D'Angelo, Chris (23 October 2018). "Remote Hawaiian Island Wiped Off The Map". Huffington Post. Retrieved 23 October 2018.
  4. https://www.dispatch.com/news/20181104/hurricane-largely-destroys-remote-hawaiian-island
  5. "LORAN Station French Frigate Shoals". LORAN History. Retrieved 2018-08-10.
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