The Tiny Offshore Island In Hawaii That Is As Fascinating As It Is Beautiful

Hawaii is comprised of eight major islands, several small islets, and numerous atolls extending approximately 1,500 miles across the Pacific Ocean. Besides the major Hawaiian Islands, all of these islands, islets, and atolls are uninhabited, and many of them are unnamed and impossible to visit. Today, we’re heading to one of the most unique islets around: a stunning little gem found off the coast of windward Oahu that is not only illegal to visit without permission from the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources, but has quite the fascinating history and is a designated State Seabird Sanctuary. Let’s check out the elusive Rabbit Island in Hawaii, shall we?

Located less than a mile off the coast of Kaupo Beach near Makapu’u, Manana Island is truly a sight to behold. Affectionately referred to as Rabbit Island perhaps due in part to its shape as seen from the shores of Oahu, this small islet is home to quite the history.

You see, this offshore island was once inhabited by rabbits. Introduced and established by John Adams Cummins in the 1880s when he ran the nearby Waimanalo Plantation, the rabbit colony populated Manana Island for nearly a century.

Sadly, the non-native rabbits multiplied throughout the years and were wreaking havoc on the native ecosystem and were eradicated in the 1990s.

Today, Rabbit Island still bears the moniker of its past but is now designated as a State Seabird Sanctuary home to more than 10,000 wedge-tailed shearwaters, 80,000 sooty terns, 20,000 brown noddys, 5 to 10 Bulwer’s petrels, and 10-15 red-tailed tropicbirds as well as numerous Hawaiian monk seals.

The island is popular among amateur and professional photographers alike and can be seen easily from several beaches along Oahu’s windward coast, but the best view is found at the top of Makapu’u Point, where you’ll not only find the adorable Makapu’u lighthouse but views of Rabbit Island as well as a long stretch of coastline.

But that’s not the only way you can experience this unique place: with a surrounding water depth of 40 to 70 feet coupled with fantastic visibility, divers love Rabbit Island. Divers can expect to discover interesting coral formations and exciting marine life here, including triton trumpets and lobsters as well as whitetip reef and tiger sharks.

Though this small offshore island is often overlooked since you can't visit, it is quite the gem and we seriously can't get enough of these photographs.

Tell us, don’t you love learning about the history behind the most iconic of Hawaii’s offshore islets?

Just a few miles away from Rabbit Island, you’ll find the Mokulua Islands, a pair of islands in Hawaii that are not only downright dreamy but are easily accessible via kayak.