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Mokulua Islands Off Lanikai

Posted: July 16, 2008

I kayaked with some Hawaiian Trail and Mountain Club (HTMC) friends to the Mokulua Islands off Lanikai on the Koolaupoko Coast of Oahu in preparation for our Na Pali Coast kayaking and hiking trip later this summer. 

 

We launched our kayaks from Kailua Beach Park and paddled along Lanikai towards the twin Mokulua islands.  The seas were clam with a slight head wind as we paddled two-and-a-half miles towards the larger of the two islands, Mokulua Nui, which is further north than the smaller island, Mokulua Iki.  People are only allowed to land on Mokulua Nui.  

Mokulua Nui is a popular destination on the weekends.  When we landed on the sandy beach on the west end of Mokulua Nui, the beach was crowded with more than 50 kayaks, surfboards, and small boats. 

The Mokulua Islands are a bird sanctuary for the Wedge-tailed Shearwater or ‘u’au kani which is indigenous to Hawaii.  Shearwaters (Puffinus pacificus) nest and raise their young on a number of small islets off the windward coast of Oahu from February through November. 

 

People are not allowed to venture in the interior of Mokulua Nui and are restricted to the perimeter of the island to minimize disturbance to the birds. As we made our way counterclockwise along the trail that circumnavigates the island we saw many burrows excavated by nesting shearwaters.  Some burrows had birds in them, others had eggs in them, and others appeared to be vacant. 

Several shearwaters were flying in the air we made our way over the rocky ledges along the margins of the island.  Like most seabirds they are awkward on land, but are strong fast fliers in the air. 

One of the more spectacular spots on Mokulua Nui is a charming protected cove called “Sharks’ Cove” on the north end of the island. 

The water in Shark’s Cove is crystal clear and is a striking teal color.  If you look closely, you can see people climbing up the the edge to dive in the 25 feet deep waters of the cove. 

The cove is actually a deep narrow channel formed by a tiny rocky island that sits just off Mokulua Nui.  The channel ranges in width from a mere 5 feet to almost 20 feet wide.

Mokulua Nui is an interesting place to visit and explore.  While it is less than a mile off Lanikai it seems like a world away.  It is little wonder that Mokulua Nui is a popular weekend destination. 

–

SOURCES:

Division of Forestry and Wildlife, Fact Sheet on Wedge-Tailed Shearwater, Dept of Land and Natural Resources, State of Hawaii, March 11, 2005

Division of Forestry and Wildlife, Oahu Offshore Island Seabird Habitat Restoration and Monitoring Program Progress Report, April 1, 2006, Dept of Land and Natural Resources, State of Hawaii, August 1006

Division of Forestry and Wildlife, Botanical Survey of Oahu Offshore Islets, Forest Starr and Kim Starr, Pg 114-138, Dept of Land and Natural Resources, State of Hawaii