Stretching 1,200 miles northwest into the Pa¬ 
cific are the tiny reefs, shoals, rocks and islands 
of Hawaii s leeward chain. 
The necklace of islands is inhabited almost 
exclusively by seals, turtles and thousands upon 
thousands of sea birds — all under the protec¬ 
tion of Federal law, 
This fall Star-Bulletin Chief Photographer 
)\ a even Roll accompanied officials of the U.S. 
Bureau of Snort Fisheries ami Wildlife and the 
State Fish and Game Division on an inspection 
lour of the islands . 
0 
1 1 is colled ion of photographs are a unique — 
and exclusive—report of the islands and their 
* 6 populaliorW today. 
It 
Rising stark, black and naked from the deep blue of 
the Pacific, Gardner Pinnacles is perhaps the hardest to 
land on of all the islands of the National Wildlife Refuge. 
On five previous trips scientists were repelled by the 
raging surf. 
This time they landed on the southern slope of the larg¬ 
est rock to inspect the bird population and breeding- 
areas. Rut even that landing was not easy. As the Coast 
Guard boat surged up with a wave the wildlife officials 
would jump one by one onto the rocky ledge—with a 
four-foot long shark circling the waters nearby. 
Gardner Pinnacles are 583 miles northwest of Honolu¬ 
lu. The highest peak is 170 feet; the lowest is 90 feet. The 
largest of the two islands is about 600 feet long. 
Geologists estimate that the volcanic outcrop probably 
was once the size of Lanai. Wind and high seas have 
carved it down to a small rock, but submarine banks 
surround the pinnacles spreading outward from five to 12 
miles. 
At least 14 species of sea birds have been sighted on 
the pinnacles. About half of them nest there. * 
During this trip four Hawaiian Monk seals were seen 
sleeping in the sun. 
"only flowering plant found on the less sloping 
[ledges is Portuiaca, a low flat-looking plant with succu- 
__ives. 
The scientists made another discovery this time. The 
military had blasted off the top of one peak for a latitude 
and longitude sighting,, part of the Hiran system of tri¬ 
angulation and aid to navigation. 
Angered Wildlife officials noted that the military did 
receive permission from the U.S. Bureau of Sport Fish¬ 
eries and Wildlife to land briefly but not to use explo¬ 
sives or to scare the birds. 
AH the islands of the refuge are protected by Federal 
law to enable the animal life, many of whose species are 
endangered of extinction, to thrive. 
Entry is restricted to those who receive permission 
from the bureau, usually biologists who will help the gov¬ 
ernment in its attempt's at preservation. 
‘‘The military is our biggest problem,” said Eugene 
Kridler, regional head of the bureau and manager of the 
refuge. Other intruders are occasional fishermen.' 
The penalty for trespassing on the islands is six months 
in prison and/or $500 fine. Disturbing the birds and dis¬ 
turbing nesting areas can also bring stiff penalties. 
Gardner Pinnacles were discovered in 1820 by Captain 
Joseph Allenon of the American whaler Marco. 
Because his description of the pinnacles was not com¬ 
pletely accurate, others m ported “discovering” the is- 
i 
lands later. This accounts for the many names, including 
Man-of-War Rock and Pollard Rock, given the peaks. 
Sea birds are not the only inhabitants of the isolated 
pinnacles. Insects, including several varieties of spiders, 
earwigs, silverfish and centipedes, live among the loose 
rocks of the peaks. 
No archaeological remains have been found, which is 
no surprise to those who have braved a landing on the 
cliffs. 
• v v , ■ 
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L.Quubus 
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I he Coast.Guard ship Ironwood approaches Gard¬ 
ner Pinnacles looking for a landing spot in the rela¬ 
tively calm sea. she peaks are surrounded by a 
shelf rich in sea life extending five to 12 miles 
from the islands at a depth of about 17 to 20 
fathoms. 
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