The Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (NWHI), the world’s most isolated chain of coral atolls, reefs, and islands, offer a rare glimpse of the world’s most diverse marine ecosystems. Stretching 1,200 miles northwest of the main Hawaiian Islands, the NWHI provide essential habitat for a multitude of marine species, providing places where they can feed, grow, and breed. More than 7,000 species of algae, marine invertebrates, fish, sea turtles, seabirds, and marine mammals make up the NWHI’s web of life. The NWHI is home to two species of albatross, Laysan and black-footed, and to more than 14 million other seabirds. Over 90 percent of Hawaii’s green sea turtles return to the beaches of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands to nest.

The Northwestern Hawaiian Islands are also home to pristine deep-sea corals found in association with submarine canyons and seamounts that are little-known. To protect the marine ecosystem surrounding the islands, the USA designated the NWHI as a coral reef ecosystem reserve in 2000, and restricted certain kinds of fishing that could damage coral and entangle rare species, such as the endangered Hawaiian monk seal. In 2006, the NWHI were designated as Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument.

EXPLORE BY THEME

Ecological Uniqueness

Endangered Species

Protected Areas

LEARN MORE

Map of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands

Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument

NWHI Coral Reef Ecosystem Reserve

Tern Island

State of Hawaii information on NWHI

PBS documentary on NWHI

NOAA Ocean Explorer cruise in NWHI

Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary - near NWHI, in the Main Hawaiian Islands

Humpback Whale Sanctuary - Encyclopedia of the Sanctuary

VIDEO

Hawaiian monk seal foraging in deep-sea coral habitat in NWHI

Trailer of the PBS documentary on NWHI