Mokumanamana Island

Other names: Necker

Geography: Rocky island with steep sides, little soil

Distance from Honolulu: 460 miles

Highest point: 276 feet

Type of island: High island

Dry land: 46 acres

Coral reef within 13.8 miles: 186,338 acres

History: Uninhabited at European contact. The island has little soil and few signs of long-term human habitation, but is covered with Polynesian shrines, leading some experts to surmise it was a sacred spot visited primarily for cultural ceremonies.

Biology notes: Only six species of plants on the rocky island. An active bird nesting site, particularly for species that prefer cliff sites, like white terns and black and blue-grey noddies. On the reef, coral diversity is fairly low because the reefs are exposed to rough surf.