Largest US Marine Protection Area

The Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (NWHI) were discovered about 1000 years ago by native Hawaiians, who considered them sacred and made regular visits till about 1700 AC mostly for religious/cultural reasons. The two islands with the most archaeological places are Nihoa and Mokumanamana. 140 religious (‘heiau’) and ceremonial sites were found here. They are close to the latitude of the Tropic of Cancer, where the sun’s path leads directly overhead at Summer solstice. It is believed that therefore early Hawaiians saw Mokumanamana (13 km north of the Tropic of Cancer) somehow as place, where the sun divides the world into the dimensions of darkness (death) and light (life).

After periodically visiting those sacred places from about 1000 AC to 1700 AC, it was forgotten and then rediscovered by the Ali’i (royals) in the1800s, initiating expeditions. It didn’t take long and Western and Japanese whale, seal, feather hunters, and pearl divers exploited the Island’s treasures until the early 20^th century.

One of the first Western research voyages was the Albatross Expedition by the Smithsonian Institute in 1902 to collect samples of marine life down to depths of 3000 m. The next scientific exploration was conducted in the early 1920; scientists from the Honolulu Bernice Bishop Museum and the Smithsonian Institute collected archaeological, meteorological, and marine specimens during the Tanager Expedition.

In the 1970s and 1980s, several monitoring programs were started as collaboration by several agencies (Quadridite Studies), like the marine turtle, seabird, or marine mammal program. It was an excessive effort, which involved about 200 scientists and lasted about a decade. The NWHI are home to several protected species such as the Hawaiian Monk Seal or the Hawaiian Green Sea Turtle, both considered endangered. However, since such a large and remote area is hard to maintain, visits did not become regular until 1996, when the Marine Debris Removal program was established. In 2000, more detailed and regular (biennial) monitoring like coral and reef surveys was introduced through the Reef Assessment and Monitoring Program (RAMP) and is an ongoing effort.

The protected status of the area minimizes human impact and enables the conservation of the cultural heritage and rich natural resources.The Hawaiian Green Sea Turtle is slowly making its come back from the list; the Hawaiian Monk Seal is however one of the most endangered mammals and on the verge of extinction. It's population is decreasing.

Almost every kind of activity is only allowed following a strict permitting process with of a long list of requirements. Exceptions are only for law enforcement, military, and emergency response activities, as well as passing through without interruption.