Home > Islets > Hawaii > Keaoi ISLETS: HAWAII > KEAOI Keaoi   Pre-earthquake view of Keaoi Islet and Halape coconut grove - Photo: USGS Physical Features Keaoi was a 2.5 acre islet located off the Big Island’s Kau coast near Halape until a magnitude 7.2 earthquake in 1975 caused the islet and the adjacent coastline to subside by about 10 feet. The islet, composed primarily of lava rock and boulders, is now awash and terrestrial plant and bird species formerly present are now gone. Regulations The islet is a State Seabird Sanctuary managed by the Hawaii DOFAW. Regulations in Hawaii Administrative Rules, Title 13 Chapter 125, protect wildlife and plants and restrict human activities in seabird sanctuaries. Federal law also protects seabirds, shorebirds, and threatened or endangered species. Birds After the 1975 earthquake and land subsidence the island became uninhabitable to seabirds. However, an August 1945 seabird survey estimated over 100 active Bulwer’s petrel nests (Bulweria bulwerii) on Keaoi. All the nests were found in cracks in the lava rock or between boulders. Plants Terrestrial plants are no longer able to grow on Keaoi, following the 1975 earthquake. National Park Service botanists surveyed Keaoi in the 1940s and reported finding 4 native species, including Capparis sandwichania, which is now a federal Species of Concern. Other biologists reported an absence of shrubs, indicating that the rocky substrate, wind, and salt spray allowed only low-growing vegetation to persist. Insects No insects were collected on Keaoi prior to its subsidence in 1975. Marine Organisms No marine surveys are known. Human Uses Human uses are unknown. Threats Because it is now awash with waves, traditional threats to terrestrial resources are irrelevant to Keaoi. > Back to top of page Home  Islets  Species  Projects  Outreach  Links  About Us