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Ka'ula Island

Ka‘ula Island is an offshore islet approximately 23 miles south of Ni‘ihau. The island provides habitat for many species of seabirds, and Hawaiian monk seals haul out, or rest, on ledges of the island. Over the years, tens of thousands of seabirds have nested on Ka‘ula Island. The island is also culturally and spiritually significant to Native Hawaiians.

Ka'ula Island
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This is an aerial photo of Ka‘ula Island.

Ka‘ula Island has been under U.S. federal jurisdiction since 1924. The Navy has managed and utilized Ka‘ula Island for training activities since 1952. For the past 44 years, only inert (non-explosive) ordnance has been authorized during aviation training activities. Training activities are limited to the southernmost 1,000 feet of the island (yellow shaded area), which represents approximately 8% of its total land area. Ka‘ula Island is a critical location for aviation training involving air-to-ground gunnery and the deployment of non-explosive ordnance from the air. The island provides the opportunity for over-water air-to-ground training that is not available at other locations in Hawai‘i. Additionally, the island is remote and uninhabited by humans, which means low risk for public safety.

Ka‘ula Island is a critical location for aviation training involving air-to-ground gunnery and the deployment of non-explosive ordnance from the air. The island provides the opportunity for over-water air-to-ground training that is not available at other locations in Hawai‘i. Additionally, the island is remote and uninhabited by humans, which means low risk for public safety.

The Navy understands how its activities can impact sensitive environments and wildlife. The Navy conducted annual seabird surveys at Ka‘ula Island from 2009 through 2019, and continues to conduct surveys biannually. In addition to documenting seabirds, the surveys also record the presence and extent of marine mammals around the island. These efforts allow the Navy to determine if military activities are affecting wildlife and, if so, what the effects are. Navy survey reports are provided to Hawai‘i Coastal Zone Management Program officials at the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development and are available to the public on the Navy’s Marine Species Monitoring website.

This is a photo of resting Hawaiian monk seals on Ka‘ula Island.