Coconut Island facts for kids
Coconut Island, also known by its Hawaiian name Moku o Loʻe, is a small island in Kāne'ohe Bay. This bay is located off the island of Oahu in Hawaii, United States. The island is about 28 acres (113,000 square meters) in size. Today, it is a special place for marine research. It is home to the Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology (HIMB), which is part of the University of Hawaii.
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Island History
Early Days and Expansion
Back in the 1930s, a man named Chris Holmes II owned Coconut Island. He was an heir to the Fleischmann yeast fortune. The island was originally about 12 acres. Between 1934 and 1936, Holmes made the island much bigger. He added coral rubble, sand, and earth to double its size. He built a home there and kept many pets, including fish in aquariums and birds in aviaries.
World War II and Relaxation
During World War II, Coconut Island was used by the United States Navy. It became a place where Navy flyers could rest and relax. This helped them recover from their duties during the war.
From Private Club to Hotel
After the war, in 1946, a group of five businessmen from Los Angeles bought the island. One of these businessmen was Edwin W. Pauley. They first planned to turn Coconut Island into a very fancy, private club called the Coconut Island Club International. They even hired famous architects like Paul R. Williams to design cottages, tennis courts, and a yacht club. However, this idea was later changed. In 1949, they decided to open a smaller hotel instead. The Coconut Island Hotel opened in February 1950 and could host 32 guests.
A Hub for Marine Science
In 1948, Edwin Pauley gave a part of the island to the University of Hawaii. This area was set aside for marine research. For many years, from the 1950s to the 1980s, the Pauley family used the island for their summer vacations. They also welcomed many important guests there.
Later, from the mid-1980s to the mid-1990s, a Japanese investor named Katsuhiro Kawaguchi owned the island. He still allowed the University of Hawaii to use some parts of it for their research. Then, in 1995, the Edwin Pauley Foundation made a very generous gift of $9.6 million. This money helped the University of Hawaii Foundation buy the rest of the island. It also helped build new laboratories for research.
Coconut Island Today
Today, the entire Coconut Island is owned by the state of Hawaii. It is completely dedicated to science. It is the main facility for the Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology (HIMB), which is part of the University of Hawaii. What makes it extra special is that it is the only U.S. laboratory built right on a coral reef. This makes it a unique place for scientists to study marine life up close.
A Famous TV Spot
You might have even seen Coconut Island without knowing it! The island was used for the opening scene of the classic television show Gilligan's Island.
