Last updated: March 31, 2023
Article
National Parks of the Pacific Islands

NPS Photo/J. Wei
In the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, home to the Kilauea and Mauna Loa volcanoes, scientists predict and monitor volcanic eruptions to protect nearby communities and document landscape changes. Native Hawaiians also worship the islands’ volcanoes, making this national park a revered and sacred place.
In the National Park of American Samoa, a diverse bird population helps scientists study habitat health and climate change. The park’s sea birds, water birds, forest birds, and shore birds are all indicators of ecosystem health within and beyond park boundaries. Because scientists can’t study every corner of the earth at all times, birds are especially helpful for studying faraway places.
Other parks, such as the Kaloko-Honokohau National Park, also rely on indicator species to assess things like water quality. In the brackish waters of anchialine pools, where fresh groundwater converges with ocean water, the presence of red shrimp is seen as a good sign. The introduction of non-native species and fresh groundwater scarcity are both threats to the prosperity of red shrimp, making their success, or lack thereof, a reliable measure for the health of other species threatened by the same issues. The isolation of island ecosystems makes for a fascinating battleground between unique native species and non-native alien species which are primarily introduced by human travel. Without parks on the islands, we would be missing out on this unique ecological dynamic and risking the health and preservation of the rich native plant and animal diversity in the Pacific Islands. Distinct circumstances like this, as well as the islands’ cultural significance, are what make this park system special.

NPS Gallery *Images credited to NPS without any copyright symbol are public domain
To learn more about all nine of the National Parks and Sites located on the Pacific Islands, click here.
Writing Prompt written by Jadyn Pando
for "A Day in the Life of a Fellow" Article Series
National Park Service - Workforce Management Fellow
in Partnership with Northwest Youth Corps
for "A Day in the Life of a Fellow" Article Series
National Park Service - Workforce Management Fellow
in Partnership with Northwest Youth Corps
Tags
- american samoa
- fellowships
- find your park
- pacific islands
- pearl harbor national memorial
- hawaii volcanoes national park
- national park of american samoa
- kaloko-honokōhau national historic park
- kilauea
- puuhonau o hōnaunau national historical park
- puuhonua
- war in the pacific national historical park
- kalaupapa national historical park
- haleakala national park
- puukohola heiau national historic site
- native plants