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Lehua

For the flower of the Hawaiian tree ʻōhiʻa lehua, see Metrosideros polymorpha.

2007 aerial view of Lehua
Location of Lehua Island (dot at left) in relation to Niʻihau and Kauaʻi, in the Hawaiian Islands.
View of Lehua from the north shore of Niʻihau
View of Lehua looking East

Lehua Island is a small, crescent-shaped island in the Hawaiian Islands, 0.7 miles (1.1 km) north of Niʻihau, 18 miles due west of Kauaʻi and is an uninhabited, 285-acre (1.15 km2) barren islet.[1] Lehua was one of the first five islands sighted by Captain James Cook in 1778 which he spelled as "Oreehoua".

Lehua Island is a Hawaii State Wildlife Sanctuary. As a restricted sanctuary, all activities are prohibited on the island without a permit. Public access to the island is restricted to areas below the high tide water mark.[2] Lehua provides habitat for at least 16 species of seabirds. A population of European rabbits had lived on the island for many years but were removed in 2005.[3] Polynesian rats, first documented on the island in the 1930s, were declared eradicated in 2021.[4][5]

When weather and wave conditions permit crossings from Kauaʻi, Lehua is a noted destination for snorkeling and scuba diving. It is also well known for an unusual geological formation dubbed "the keyhole". Located in one of the crescent's narrow arms, this is a tall, thin notch cut from one side, all the way through to the other side of the arm.

The United States Coast Guard maintains Lehua Rock Light (a lighthouse) on Kaunuakalā, at 704 feet (215 m) the highest point of the island.

  1. ^ "Lehua Lowdown from Garden Island". DNLR. August 19, 2017. Retrieved November 5, 2021.
  2. ^ "Hawaii Wildlife Sanctuary Rules" (PDF). Hawaii Administrative Rules section 13-126. Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources. Retrieved December 3, 2015.
  3. ^ "Final Environmental Assessment - Lehua Island Restoration" (PDF). Final Environmental Assessment - Lehua Island Restoration. Hawaii Office of Environmental Quality Control. Retrieved December 3, 2015.
  4. ^ "SUCCESS! LEHUA ISLAND IS RAT FREE". Department of Land and Natural Resources. State of Hawaii. Retrieved February 13, 2022.
  5. ^ "Program targets Lehua isle rats". Star Bulletin. July 12, 2008. Retrieved February 13, 2022.
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