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Looking for a winter vacation? Consider one of the most remote islands in the world – Midway Atoll. As part of the new national marine monument in Hawaii, the island is being opened for ecotourism to help raise awareness as well as remove trash and foreign species.
A week-long stay will cost roughly $3600, including airfare from Hawaii and basic accommodation in an old military barrack. Activities are limited to low-impact sports such as hiking and snorkeling, with an emphasis on cleanup. Efforts are underway to remove fishing lines and nets, trash and fast-growing non-native flowers harmful to the gooney birds.
This isn’t a luxury resort, even on the eco-tourism scale. Man-made attractions are limited to a single small gift shop and various war-era buildings. The real attractions are natural (although few are native.) Thousands of gooney birds, critically endangered Hawaiian monk seals, green sea turtles, frigate birds and albatross (and more) are currently thriving on the islands.
Although there is a small fulltime population (roughly 40 people in 2004), there is no local economy. Overnight visitors will be limited to 40 (chosen by lottery), and while there is discussion of allowing cruise ships to stop, questions are still being raised as to the ecological impact of essentially unsupervised tourists wandering the island.
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