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The worn, stone sign that says Earhart Light 1937 sit on top what remains of the lighthouse on Howland.

Howland Island

National Wildlife Refuge
Howland Island National Wildlife Refuge is not open to the public and entry is only allowed through a Special Use Permit when the activity is deemed appropriate with purposes to the refuge establishment.
Pass details
7:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Detailed hours
300 Ala Moana Boulevard, Room 5-231
Honolulu, HI 96850

Plan Your Visit

Howland Island National Wildlife Refuge is not open to the public and entry is only allowed through a Special Use Permit when the activity is deemed appropriate with purposes to the refuge establishment.

Interactive Map
Hours
Opens: 7:30 a.m.
Closes: 5:30 p.m.
Detailed hours
Safety Policies
Federal Wildlife Officers: 1-844-379-8477
For emergencies: 911

Featured Species

Wandering Tattler
Tringa incana
Red-footed Booby
Sula sula
Brown Booby
Sula leucogaster
Masked Booby
Sula dactylatra
Blue-gray Noddy, Blue Noddy
Procelsterna cerulea
Pacific Golden-Plover, Kōlea
Pluvialis fulva
Red-tailed Tropicbird
Phaethon rubricauda
Grey-backed Tern, Spectacled Tern, Gray-backed Tern
Onychoprion lunatus
Sooty Tern
Onychoprion fuscatus
Bristle-thighed Curlew
Numenius tahitiensis
Great Frigatebird
Fregata minor
Lesser Frigatebird
Fregata ariel
A ruddy turnstone stands on a white rock, looking to the left of the photo.
Ruddy Turnstone
Arenaria interpres
Brown Noddy
Anous stolidus

Get Involved

You can support your national wildlife refuges by joining organizations such as the National Wildlife Refuge Association that actively supports and advocates for the National Wildlife Refuge System. Volunteer opportunities can also be found at volunteer.gov.

Services

Special Use PermitsManagement & ConservationProjects & ResearchServices

About

Howland Island National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1974 and includes 410,999 acres, of which 648 acres are terrestrial and 410,351 acres are submerged. The island’s history includes recorded visitation by whalers in the 1800s, guano mining, and a colonization project in 1935 involving military and young Native Hawaiian men. In 1937, it was the intended destination and refueling station for Amelia Earhart during her attempt to circumnavigate the globe.

Learn More About UsMore About What We DoRules & Policies
The worn, stone sign that says Earhart Light 1937 sit on top what remains of the lighthouse on Howland.
Howland Island National Wildlife Refuge
300 Ala Moana Boulevard, Room 5-231
Honolulu, HI 96850
pacific_reefs@fws.gov

Marine National Monuments of the Pacific

This is the public inbox for all refuges within the marine national monuments in the Pacific. pacific_reefs@fws.gov

Stefan Kropidlowski

Deputy Superintendent, Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument stefan_kropidlowski@fws.gov

John Klavitter

Monument Superintendent, Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument john_klavitter@fws.gov