Fish and Wildlife Service.
Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge was first established as an "overlay" refuge in 1988 to protect the area’s significant natural, cultural, and historic resources, while still under the primary jurisdiction of the Navy. With the closure of Naval Air Facility Midway Island in 1993, there began a transition in mission from national defense to wildlife conservation. In 1996 full jurisdiction was given to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
In 2000 Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge was designated the Battle of Midway National Memorial, so that the heroic courage and sacrifice of those who fought against overwhelming odds to win an incredible victory will never be forgotten.
Nearly three million birds nest much of each year nest on Midway Atoll including the world's largest population of albatrosses, nunulu (bonin petrels) and endangered koloa pōhaka (Laysan ducks). `Ilio holo I ka uaua (Hawaiian monk seals), Honu (green sea turtles) and nai'a (spinner dolphins) frequent Midway's crystal blue lagoon encircled by coral.
Midway Atoll (Kuaihelani) comprises an elliptical outer reef nearly 5 miles in diameter, and 580,392 acres of submerged reef and ocean and three flat coral islands totaling approximately 1,549 acres. Sand Island (1,117 acres) and Eastern Island (366 acres) are the two most prominent coral islands of the Atoll, while Spit Island is only about 15 acres in size. The atoll, which is 28.7 million years old, is surrounded by more than 88,500 acres (356 square kilometers) of coral reefs. Numerous patch reefs dot the sandy-bottomed lagoon supporting 163 species of reef fishes and 16 species of corals.
Many chants and moʻolelo describe famous mythical floating islands in the sky, including Midway Atoll or Kuaihelani, as an example. These high ranking islands are referenced as a homeland for the gods, deified ancestors, spirits, and the afterlife. Kuaihelani specifically is said to have been located in the northwest direction of the main islands, and appears as part of a cloud bank adjoining earth. Kuaihelani means “the backbone of heaven”. Looking at what we know about the northwest Hawaiian islands, large lagoons such as the one found at Midway Atoll are known to reflect the color of the lagoon in the clouds above, giving the appearance of an island floating in the sky. Another name that was given specifically to Midway Atoll is Pihemanu, meaning “the loud din of birds”, and actively describes what one hears on this atoll.
Today, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service staff, volunteer and contractors live on Midway to support the recovery and integrity of wildlife habitat and species while balancing their own human impact on the land and seascape and protecting historical resources.
Because of Midway Atoll's remote location in the middle of the North Pacific Ocean, it can only be reached by air, or by sailboats under a special use permit system. For further information please contact the refuge by telephone at 808-674-8237, or by e-mail at Barry_Christenson@fws.gov.