Home > Islets > Lanai > Nanahoa ISLETS: LANAI > NANAHOA Nanahoa   Nanahoa - Photo: F & K Starr Nanahoa - Photo: F & K Starr   Nanahoa - Photo: F & K Starr Nanahoa - Photo: F & K Starr   Nanahoa - Photo: F & K Starr Physical Features Nanahoa is actually a cluster of 4 small, sheer sea stacks located near Honopu Bay. The sea stack closest to land is the tallest and is perhaps 130 feet tall. Collectively, the area of all 4 sea stacks is around 2 acres. Extensive rocky shelves and tidepools surround the islets. Legends say that the islet furthest from shore is female and the other 3 are male. Access to these seastacks is very difficult. 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 Surveys from the 1980s indicated that Wedge-tailed shearwaters (Puffinus pacificus) and Bulwer’s Petrel (Bulweria bulwerii) were suspected to be breeding on Nanahoa islets. Plants Botanical surveys were conducted by helicopter in April 2006. A 1982 survey was conducted, also without physically landing on the rocks. The seastack nearest the coastline is the largest and has the most vegetation. The smallest, most distant sea stack has minimal vegetation. In 2006, 8 plant species were observed; 4 native and 4 alien. This compares with the 1982 survey which detected 6 species; 4 native and 2 alien. Because all surveys have been conducted from a distance, it is possible that some less obvious species have been missed. Insects No insect collections are known from Nanahoa. Marine Organisms No marine surveys are known. The extensive intertidal areas and tidepools surrounding the 4 Nanahoa islets would likely yield interesting survey results. Human Uses Human uses are unknown. Threats Non-native grasses are likely the greatest threat. > Back to top of page Home  Islets  Species  Projects  Outreach  Links  About Us