Howland Island
Honolulu, HI 96850
Plan Your Visit
Howland Island National Wildlife Refuge is not open to the public and entry is only allowed through a Special Use Permit when the activity is deemed appropriate with purposes to the refuge establishment.
Featured Species
Get Involved
You can support your national wildlife refuges by joining organizations such as the National Wildlife Refuge Association that actively supports and advocates for the National Wildlife Refuge System. Volunteer opportunities can also be found at volunteer.gov.
Services
Due to its remote nature, Howland Island does not receive active management. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service with our partners at NOAA monitor the island for seabird activity and nesting, invasive species, and the overall health of the surrounding reef.
About
Howland Island National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1974. A shallow fringing coral reef surrounds the island, but most of the submerged area is deep coral and other unexplored habitats.
On January 6, 2009, the Pacific Islands Heritage Marine National Monument was established to include Howland Island National Wildlife Refuge within its boundaries.
Howland Island National Wildlife Refuge includes the emergent and submerged lands and waters out to 12 nautical miles, for a total of 422,361 acres (450 terrestrial acres). The Howland and Baker Islands National Wildlife Refuge Unit of the Monument includes the emergent and submerged lands and waters out to 50 nautical miles, for a total of 12,764,916 acres.
In 1937, Howland Island was poised to become a historic stop in Amelia Earhart’s attempt to fly around the world. But Earhart and her navigator, Fred Noonan, vanished while en route to the island, leaving behind one of aviation’s greatest mysteries.
Entry to Howland Island is by permit only.