The superintendent at a marine reserve near Hawaii says she was astounded when she learned a hurricane had wiped out an entire island in one night.
East Island was a remote sand spit that sat atop a coral reef in the French Frigate shoals in Papahānamokuākea marine reserve.
But a couple of weeks ago, Hurricane Walaka -- a category five storm -- slammed directly into it, and washed it off the map.
Athline Clark told Jamie Tahana the island was a critical breeding ground for several endangered and threatened species, and its loss is devastating.
Photo: © Cultura, all rights reserved.
