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
Coordinates	23°47′14″N 166°12′35″W
Archipelago	French Frigate Shoals
Adjacent bodies of water	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
County	Honolulu County
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.[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]