East Island, Hawaii
East Island is an island, formerly about 11 acres (45,000 m2) in area, one-half mile (800 m) long and 400 feet (120 m) wide, now greatly reduced in size. It was the second-largest in the French Frigate Shoals, and is one of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, approximately 550 miles (890 km) northwest of Honolulu. It was largely washed away in 2018 by the storm surge from Hurricane Walaka. The remaining portion of the island above sea level consists of a sandy strip approximately 150 feet (46 m) long.
Satellite images of East Island, Hawaii, before (May 2018) and after (October 2018) Hurricane Walaka | |
East Island | |
| Geography | |
|---|---|
| Location | Pacific Ocean |
| Coordinates | 23°47′14″N 166°12′35″W |
| Archipelago | French Frigate Shoals |
| Adjacent to | Pacific Ocean |
| Area | 11 acres (4.5 ha) |
| Length | 0.5 mi (0.8 km) |
| Width | 400 ft (120 m) |
| Country | United States |
| State | Hawaii |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 0 (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. 96% of Hawaii's green sea turtles nest in the French Frigate Shoals, and over half of those were on East Island. Charles Littnan, of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, described the island as "the most important single islet for [green] sea turtle nesting".
During World War II a U.S. Coast Guard radio navigation station was built on East Island and operated from 1944 to 1952.
In the 19th century, East Island was sometimes called "Turtle Island."