Maritime heritage archaeological team on board the NOAA Ship HI'IALAKAI. Hans van Tilburgh, Tane Casserley, Brenda Altmeier, unidentified and Kelly Gleason.

Anchor and bow section of the whaling ship PARKER at Kure Atoll.

Archaeological team recording debris field from wreck of a whaling ship. Note large try pots for boiling blubber.

Maritime Heritage team member Brenda Altmeier recording data from the wreck of the Scottish ship DUNNOTAR CASTLE.

NOAA diver John Brooks inspecting the remains of the USS MACAW at Midway Island.

Tane Casserly and Kelly Gleason mapping the remains of a shipwreck.

Very large hermit crab making queen triton shell home.

Remains of a pier at Green Island, Kure Atoll. The net material on the pier has been collected by the NOAA Marine Debris Program from the surrounding reef area.

The seemingly pristine beach on Green Island, Kure Atoll. In reality, this beach is strewn with plastic debris that has ridden the ocean currents to this remote area in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands.

Marine debris on Green Island, Kure Atoll.

A tropical sunset over a placid sea.

A tropical sunset over a placid sea.

French Frigate Shoals. The last rock in the NW Hawaiian Islands. The most northwesterly rock in the NW Hawaiian Islands.

French Frigate Shoals. The last rock in the NW Hawaiian Islands. The most northwesterly rock in the NW Hawaiian Islands.

French Frigate Shoals. The last rock in the NW Hawaiian Islands. The most northwesterly rock in the NW Hawaiian Islands.

French Frigate Shoals, Tern Island, Hawaiian Islands National Wildlife Refuge.

French Frigate Shoals, Tern Island, Hawaiian Islands National Wildlife Refuge.

Green Island-Kure Atoll. Very little marine debris washes up in this area.

Green Island-Kure Atoll. Debris team and island staff at island landing. Debris is collected, bombed with benign pesticide, and covered with blue tarp to ensure no foreign insects are brought to final disposal site.

Lisianski Island. Sand and vegetation inshore of sharp coral rock shoreline.

Lisianski Island. Vegetation and birds.

Lisianski Island. Birds seem to be only inhabitants for the moment of monk seal observers camp.

A squall seen from work boat during marine debris removal operations.

A squall seen from work boat during marine debris removal operations.

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.