The U.S. Coast Guard cutter Kukui and her crew of 50 last month traveled more than 2,600 nautical miles to enforce federal regulations and environmental protective measures throughout the 140,000 square miles of Papahanaumokuakea, the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Marine National Monument.

President Bush last year designated the area — about 100 miles wide and encompassing a 1,200-mile long swath of environmentally sensitive coral islands, seamounts, and reefs — as a national monument. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the monument ecosystem is home to some 7,000 species — including more than 1,400 Hawaiian Monk Seals and 90 percent of the Hawaiian green sea turtle population.

During the ship's patrol, the Kukui crew spent several days servicing 17 buoys and two other aids to navigation in the vicinity of Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge.

Also, the Kukui crew transported three members of the Hawai'i Department of Land and Natural Resources to Kure Atoll, a state refuge. While anchored there, the Kukui's dive team performed an underwater survey of a sunken 30-foot sailing vessel to assess its impact on the surrounding coral reef ecosystem.

In addition, the Kukui crew assisted Fish and Wildlife Service personnel stationed on Tern Island, French Frigate Shoals, by using its small boat to retrieve about 80 pounds of tar collected off the shoreline. Tar samples were transferred to Honolulu for analysis to determine their origin.

The Kukui is a 225-foot Juniper Class Buoy Tender home-ported in Honolulu. The Kukui, which returned to Coast Guard Integrated Support Command Honolulu Kukui Aug. 1, is now deployed to service NOAA weather buoys and Coast Guard navigational aids on the Big Island, Maui, Moloka'i and Kaua'i.

Ensign West serves on the Coast Guard cutter Kukui.