Northwestern Hawaiian Islands · HI
French Frigate Shoals
Hawaii's largest atoll, which nearly wrecked a French explorer.
- Named
- 1786
- Hawaiian name
- Kānemilohaʻi
Then
- 1786
Lapérouse nearly runs onto the breakers on November 6 and names the shoals for his frigates.
- 1859
The US claims the shoals under the Guano Islands Act.
- 1942
Japanese flying boats refuel here in March for a raid on Oʻahu.
- 2018
Hurricane Walaka washes away most of East Island.
Now
The shoals are a nature reserve and a key breeding ground for Hawaiian monk seals, sea turtles and seabirds.