Palmyra was a gamble that worked beautifully.  Officially we did not have permission to visit.  But we decided to try anyway - the worst they could do would be to say No, in which case we would simply continue on our way to Hawaii.  As it happened, we were welcomed in, invited to stay a for a lovely thanksgiving meal prepared for the resident scientists, and accompanied them in their work.  

Here they are collecting marine samples from the lagoon.

They are trying to eradicate all rats from Palmyra.  We watched this dog chase a rat along the beach and onto the wharf, where it dived into the water, and was immediately caught by a waiting shark.  Apparently the dog and shark act as a rat catching team!

The dock where the rat action took place.  

I neveer did figure out who or what made this row of sand piles and holes.  Are they in preparation for planting the coconut palms nearby?

Local bird colony

Local bird

Palmyra - gorgeous, untouched, teeming with life.  We were so lucky to visit.

There is a runway dating from WW II, and still in use today.  There are cannon-like noisemakers along its sides.  There noise discourages birds from making the runway their home.