Mānana facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mānana |
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Mānana Island (and Kāohikaipu) as seen from Oahu
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 110 m (360 ft) |
| Prominence | 110 m (360 ft) |
| Geography | |
 Mānana
Location in Hawaii
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| Geology | |
| Mountain type | Tuff cone |
| Last eruption | Less than 200,000 years ago |
Mānana Island is a small island off the coast of Oʻahu in Hawaiʻi. It's located about 0.75 miles (1.2 km) from Kaupō Beach. In the Hawaiian language, mānana means "buoyant" or "floating."
Many people know this island as Rabbit Island. This is because its shape, when seen from Oahu, looks a bit like a rabbit's head. Also, long ago, real rabbits lived there!
Contents
The Story of Rabbit Island
Rabbits on the Island
In the 1880s, a man named John Adams Cummins brought rabbits to Mānana Island. He owned a large farm nearby called Waimānalo plantation. The rabbits lived on the island for about 100 years.
Why the Rabbits Left
Over time, the rabbits caused problems. They ate too many plants, which hurt the island's natural environment. Mānana Island is an important place for seabirds to lay their eggs and raise their young. The rabbits were destroying the homes and food sources for these birds. Because of this, the rabbits were removed from the island to protect the native plants and animals.
How Mānana Island Was Formed
A Volcanic Past
Mānana Island is a special type of volcano called a tuff cone. This means it was formed by explosive volcanic eruptions. When hot magma (melted rock) mixes with water, it creates steam and ash. This ash then piles up to form a cone-shaped island.
The island has two main openings, or craters, from where the lava and ash came out. The highest point on Mānana Island is about 361 feet (110 meters) tall.
Island Size and Neighbors
Mānana Island is about 2,319 feet (707 meters) long and 2,147 feet (654 meters) wide. It covers an area of about 63 acres (25 hectares). The island has only one small sandy area. This beach is on the western side, away from the strong winds.
Right next to Mānana is another small volcanic island called Kāohikaipu. Both islands were formed by the same volcanic activity that created other famous spots in Hawaii, like Punchbowl Crater.
Home to Amazing Wildlife
A Safe Place for Birds
Today, Mānana Island is a State Seabird Sanctuary. This means it's a protected area where many different kinds of seabirds can live safely. It's a very important breeding ground for them.
More than 10,000 wedge-tailed shearwaters call the island home. You can also find about 80,000 sooty terns and 20,000 brown noddys. Smaller numbers of Bulwer's petrels and red-tailed tropicbirds also live there.
Hawaiian Monk Seals
Besides birds, Mānana Island is also a resting spot for many Hawaiian monk seals. These seals are an endangered species, so protecting their habitats is very important.
Visiting the Island
Because Mānana Island is a protected sanctuary, it is against the law to land on the island without special permission. This rule helps keep the island safe for all the amazing wildlife that lives there.
