Location
Howland Island is located at 0°48′07″N 176°38′3″W. Uninhabited coral island north of the equator in the central Pacific Ocean, about 1,670 nm southwest of Honolulu. Baker Island is located 68km to the south. Though sometimes included as one of the Phoenix Islands, for statistical purposes, Howland is grouped as one of the United States Minor Outlying Islands.

History
Colonized in 1935 with a single settlement named Itascatown. Also to build a landing area, in anticipation that the island might eventually be used as a stop-over for a commercial trans-Pacific air route and also to solidify U.S. territorial claims. All attempts at habitation were abandoned after 1944.

Kamakaiwi Airfield
Built in the 1930s, damaged during the war

Japanese Missions against Howland
December 8 - ?, 1941

Wartime History
At the start of the Pacific war, only four colonists were on the island. On January 31, 1942 the two survivors were finally evacuated USN destroyer and Howland was occupied by a USMC battalion during September 1943.

Earhart Light
Located at the center of the island on the west coast. This navigational landmark was built prior to the war and was named "Earhart Light" in honor of Amelia Earhart who was lost attempting to fly to the island. Damaged during the war, it was rebuilt in the 1960s by the US Coast Guard, but in recent years has also fallen into disrepair.

Today
Howland Island National Wildlife Refuge, managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service of the 455 acre and the surrounding 32,074 acres of submerged land. The island is visited every two years by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

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Last Updated
October 1, 2009