Nā Mokulua

File:Mokulua Islands, Oahu Hawaii.JPG

Nā Mokulua, or just Mokulua (meaning, in Hawaiian, "the two islands") are two islets off the windward coast of Oahu in the Hawaiian Islands. The islets are often photographed and are located about 0.75 miles off Kaʻōhao (Lanikai), a neighborhood of Kailua, Hawai‘i.

The larger island (on the left when looking from Lanikai) is referred to as Moku Nui and the smaller is Moku Iki, which translates literally to big island and small island. Some Native Hawaiian cultural practitioners note that there was likely a non-generic name given to the islands that have since been lost because neither Moku Nui nor Moku Iki are listed in Hawaiian-print newspapers or older maps of the region.{{cite web |url=http://halaumohalailima.info/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Ka-Lae-%CA%BBo-Al%C4%81la.pdf |title=Ka Lae ʻo Alāla |website=Hālau Mōhala ‘Ilima |publisher=Kihei de Silva |access-date=December 22, 2020}} They are part of the Hawaii State Seabird Sanctuary and activities on them as well as off-limit areas on them are regulated by law.{{cite web|title=Hawaii State DLNR Rules Regulating Wildlife Sanctuaries|url=http://files.hawaii.gov/dlnr/dofaw/rules/Chap126.pdf|publisher=Hawaii State DLNR Rules Regulating Wildlife Sanctuaries}} Specifically, the smaller islet, Moku Iki, is off-limits to visitors, as is the interior of Moku Nui. Also, no pets are allowed. Many birds nest in ground burrows on the islands.

The two islands are composed of many basaltic intrusive igneous dikes, often called a dike swarm. These dikes are a part of the larger Ko'olau shield.{{cite web|title=Hawai'i's Coastline|url=http://www.soest.hawaii.edu/coasts/publications/hawaiiCoastline/oahu.html|publisher=University of Hawai'i Coastal Geology Group}}

Locals surf the breaks on both sides of Moku Nui and spearfish alongside tiger sharks where they are known to hang out on the ocean side drop-off.{{Citation needed|date=October 2016}} On the backside of Moku Nui, there is an eight-foot deep natural saltwater swimming hole known as "Queen's Bath".{{cite web | url=https://oahuactivities.com/the-mokes/ | title=The Mokes - Na Mokulua - 1 of Oahu's Most Photographed Spots | date=17 August 2021 }} saltwater Kayak and outrigger canoe tours to the islands are very popular but laws prohibit deliveries to Kailua or Lanikai Beach. In May 2011, a kayak tourist was swept off the rocks and drowned {{cite web|title=Body of missing kayaker recovered off Mokulua Islands|url=http://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/Global/story.asp?S=14596244|publisher=Hawaii News Now|accessdate=8 May 2011}}

File:The Moks from Lanikai.JPG|View from Lanikai Beach at daylight

File:Canoes in Mokulua.jpg|View of Moku Iki from the beach of Moku Nui

File:MokuluaPool.JPG|Ocean cove on the north side of Moku Nui

File:Mokulua Bird Sanctuary.jpg|Hawaii State Seabird Sanctuary in Moku Nui

File:Na Mokulua.jpg|View from Lanikai Beach at dawn

File:The Mokes.jpg|The Mokulua from the coast of Lanikai Beach