East Island was the second-largest islet – roughly half a mile long and 400 feet wide – in the French Frigate Shoals northwest of Honolulu. Two small slivers of sand are the only evidence that East Island even existed at all. Annually, about 30 percent of Hawaiian monk seal pups are born at East Island, Charles Littnan, protected species director for NOAA’s Pacific Island Fisheries Science Center, told The Post. But, Littnan said East Island and its neighboring islets are “exceptionally more important” for green sea turtles. “East Island is the most important, or was, the most important breeding island for threatened Hawaii green sea turtles,” he said.

Source: National Post October 25, 2018 14:15 UTC