Gardner Pinnacles

The Gardner Pinnacles were first discovered on June 2, 1820, by the American whaler Maro, commanded by Captain Joseph Allen. The Gardner Pinnacles are home to the giant opihi (Cellana talcosa), a limpet known in Hawaiian as the , which is not found anywhere else in the world outside the Hawaiian Islands. In 1903 the Gardner Pinnacles became a part of the Hawaiian Islands Bird Reservation. In the 21st century it is part of Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument wildlife refuge. In the Hawaiian Archipelago, adjacent islands/reefs are French Frigate Shoals to the southeast, and Maro Reef to the northwest. ==Geology==

The island is made up of basalt rock, The Puhahonu volcano (Gardner) would be twice as big as Mauna Loa's based on that research. At one time they were hypothesised to be related to the Pūhāhonu volcano because of arch volcanism, which can not be the case, given the newly determined age difference. ==Ecology==

The island has one plant known to grow on it, the succulent sea purslane. However, there are over a dozen species of bird observed here, many nesting. ==Name==

The name Gardner comes from its discovery in 1820, when the Captain Joseph Allen of the ship Maro named it Gardner's Island. It has sometimes been called Gardner Rock or Gardner Island, besides the Gardner Pinnacles. The Hawaiian name, Pūhāhonu, means 'turtle surfacing for air', from pūhā 'to breathe at the surface' and honu 'turtle'. ==See also==