Hawaiian Islands National Wildlife Refuge
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The Hawaiian Islands National Wildlife Refuge (HINWR) is a National Wildlife Refuge of the United States, composed of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, with the exception of Midway Atoll and Kure Atoll. Portions of the refuge are part of the Pacific Remote Islands National Wildlife Refuge Complex, administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. It is not open to the general public; only those who have a special use permit are allowed to enter the refuge.
The refuge was established in 1909 by President Theodore Roosevelt's Executive Order 1019. It consists of a chain of remote islands, reefs, and atolls, including Nihoa, Necker Island, French Frigate Shoals, Laysan, Lisianski Island, Gardner Pinnacles, Maro Reef, and Pearl and Hermes Atoll. In total, the refuge has over 1,805,403 acres (7,306 km²) of submerged coral reefs. These islands and reefs also provide habitat for the Hawaiian Monk Seal and Hawaiian Green Sea Turtle.
A wetland reserve providing habitat for waterbirds on Kauai was added in 1973 and covers 241 acres (1 km²). It can be viewed from Menehune Fish Pond adjacent to the park. It is inhabited by species such as the Hawaiian Stilt, Hawaiian Coot, Hawaiian Moorhen and Hawaiian Duck.
[edit] See also
- Northwestern Hawaiian Islands State Marine Refuge
- Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Coral Reef Ecosystem Reserve
- Northwestern Hawaiian Islands National Monument
- Hawai`i Institute of Marine Biology