Ghost Town USA

Ghost Town · Hawaii

Mānana

A ghost town of unknown status in Hawaii.

By the Ghost Town USA research team · Last reviewed September 2026

Mānana ghost town, Hawaii
Photo: Don Ramey Logan (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Wikimedia Commons

Quick Facts

State
Hawaii
County
Not recorded
Status
Unknown Status
Access
Unknown Access
Coordinates
Not recorded

Boomtowns are built on optimism; ghost towns are what's left when it runs out. Welcome to Mānana. Mānana Island is an uninhabited islet located 0.75 mi (0.65 nmi; 1.21 km) off Kaupō Beach, near Makapuʻu at the eastern end of the island of Oʻahu in the Hawaiian Islands.

The story of Mānana

Hawaii's ghost towns are sugar plantation villages — company towns that emptied when the mills closed.

Mānana Island is an uninhabited islet located 0.75 mi (0.65 nmi; 1.21 km) off Kaupō Beach, near Makapuʻu at the eastern end of the island of Oʻahu in the Hawaiian Islands. In the Hawaiian language, mānana means "buoyant". The islet is commonly referred to as Rabbit Island, because its shape as seen from the nearby Oʻahu shore looks something like a rabbit's head and because it was once inhabited by introduced rabbits. The rabbit colony was established by John Adams Cummins in the 1880s when he ran the nearby Waimānalo plantation.

What you'll find today

The on-the-ground condition of Mānana is unverified — it's listed here with unknown status. That could mean standing buildings, or an empty field. Go prepared for either, and consider sharing what you find so the record improves.

Nobody has confirmed the access situation, so treat any visit as reconnaissance: verify land ownership first, and be ready to admire from the road.

Getting there

Here's the honest truth: access to Mānana is unverified. We couldn't confirm whether the site sits on public land, private property, or something in between — so verify land ownership and local rules before visiting, and respect private property at all times.

Good to know

Ghost-town etiquette is simple: take only photographs. Removing artifacts is illegal on public lands and disrespectful everywhere else — and on federal land it can be a serious offense.

Mānana FAQs

Where is Mānana located?
Mānana is in Hawaii. Precise coordinates aren't on record, so research maps and local directions before you go.
What county is Mānana in?
No county is recorded for Mānana in the sources used for this directory — it's listed under Hawaii.
What is the history of Mānana?
Mānana Island is an uninhabited islet located 0.75 mi (0.65 nmi; 1.21 km) off Kaupō Beach, near Makapuʻu at the eastern end of the island of Oʻahu in the Hawaiian Islands. In the Hawaiian language, mānana means "buoyant".
What remains at Mānana today?
The on-the-ground condition of Mānana is unverified — it's listed here with unknown status. That could mean standing buildings, or an empty field. Go prepared for either, and consider sharing what you find so the record improves.
Can you visit Mānana?
Here's the honest truth: access to Mānana is unverified. We couldn't confirm whether the site sits on public land, private property, or something in between — so verify land ownership and local rules before visiting, and respect private property at all times.

Sources: description based on Wikipedia (“Mānana”), CC BY-SA.

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