Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge

Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge was first established as an "overlay" refuge in 1988 to protect the area's significant natural, cultural, and historic resources, while still under the primary jurisdiction of the Navy. With the closure of Naval Air Facility Midway Island in 1993 came a transition in mission from national defense to wildlife conservation, and in 1996 full jurisdiction was given to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. In 2000 the refuge was designated the Battle of Midway National Memorial, so that the courage and sacrifice of those who fought against overwhelming odds will never be forgotten. Nearly three million birds nest on Midway Atoll throughout the year, including the world's largest population of albatrosses, nunulu (Bonin petrels) and endangered koloa pōhaka (Laysan ducks). `Ilio holo I ka uaua (Hawaiian monk seals), honu (green sea turtles) and nai'a (spinner dolphins) frequent Midway's crystal blue lagoon encircled by coral. Midway Atoll comprises an elliptical outer reef nearly 5 miles in diameter, 580,392 acres of submerged reef and ocean, and three flat coral islands totaling approximately 1,549 acres: Sand Island at 1,117 acres, Eastern Island at 366 acres, and Spit Island at only about 15 acres. The atoll, 28.7 million years old, is surrounded by more than 88,500 acres of coral reefs, and numerous patch reefs dot the sandy-bottomed lagoon, supporting 163 species of reef fishes and 16 species of corals. Many chants and moʻolelo, traditional stories, describe famous mythical floating islands in the sky, including Midway Atoll, or Kuaihelani — a homeland for the gods, revered as a place where ancestors reside, said to lie northwest of the main islands and to appear as part of a cloud bank adjoining earth. Kuaihelani means "the backbone of the sky," and large lagoons such as Midway's are known to reflect their color in the clouds above, giving the appearance of an island floating in the sky. Another name given to the atoll is Pihemanu, "the loud din of birds," which describes the comfort one finds in the sound of birds when traveling alone or in isolated places. Today, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service staff, volunteers and contractors live on Midway to support the recovery and integrity of wildlife habitat and species, while balancing their own impact on the land and seascape and protecting historical resources.