Tufts of grass on Laysan Island.

Blooming flowers on Laysan Island.

Whitetip shark

Booby chick

Masked boobies

Frigate bird

Outlying island of the Northwest Hawaiian Islands

Gardner Pinnacle

Laysan Island. Spotted eagle rays cruising just off the beach.

Laysan Island. Monk seals.

Laysan Island. The emerald green waters of Laysan Lagoon.

Laysan Island. A mid-Pacific morning glory. Known as beach morning glory or Poehuehue in Hawaiian. (Ipomoea pes-caprae0. Indigenous to the Hawaii.

Laysan Island. National Wildlife Refuge sign.

Part of the beach on Laysan Island.

Midway Island. Rainbow.

Midway Mall, your one-stop shop on Midway Island.

Midway Mall sign, your one-stop shop on Midway Island.

Midway Island. The old dining hall.

Midway Island. Enlisted barracks.

Midway Island. Officer housing.

North Beach on Midway Island. Looks a little crowded today, maybe we should go to South Beach.

Midway Island. Naupaka plant and flower. There are eight types of this plant which are native to the Hawaiian Islands.

Midway Island. North Beach lifesaving station. Not sure what the hard hat is for.

Midway Island. North Beach shoreline. Does that ever look inviting. Might check the next two photos though.

Midway Island. A good idea to look before one leaps into the water as sharks often cruise by.

Midway Island. A good idea to look before one leaps into the water as sharks often cruise by.

Midway Island. The rusty bucket. Remains of a man-made structure.

Midway Island. Golden crownbeard (Verbesina encelioides) is an introduced invasive species. It can grow so dense that it can prevent bird nesting in some areas.

Midway Island. Battle of Midway Memorial, the greatest naval battle in history.

Midway Island. Battle of Midway Memorial, the greatest naval battle in history.

Kure Island. Green from the atoll lagoon reflecting off cloud bottoms.

Kure Island. Green from the atoll lagoon reflecting off cloud bottoms.

Kure Island. Monument to Coast Guard Loran-C Station Kure Island which was in service from 1961 until 1992. The monument is dedicated to the 900 Coast Guard personnel who served at this station and kept it "on air and in tolerance" in defense of their country. A 625-foot transmitting antenna stood at this spot.

Kure Island. Monument to Coast Guard Loran-C Station Kure Island which was in service from 1961 until 1992. The monument is dedicated to the 900 Coast Guard personnel who served at this station and kept it "on air and in tolerance" in defense of their country. A 625-foot transmitting antenna stood at this spot.

Kure Island.

Kure Island.

Kure Island.

Kure Island.

Snorkeling at Pearl and Hermes Reef. Oval butterfly fish.

Snorkeling at Pearl and Hermes Reef. Interesting coral formation.

Snorkeling at Pearl and Hermes Reef. Pillsbury's headshield slug.

Coming ashore with supplies for a shore camp.

Returning empty containers from a shore camp.

Monk seals on the beach.

A green turtle with an amputated limb that was probably lost to marine debris.

A vision of paradise

A bird shadow at the water's edge.

Monk seal and albatross chick discussing the day's news.

Island vegetation - five-leafed white flowers.

A different species shows up amidst the sea birds of Tern Island.