June 15, 2006—Today President George W. Bush designated the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands a U.S. national monument. The nearly California- size stretch of ocean and islands will be the world's largest marine sanctuary. (Read the full news story: "Hawaii Islands Named World's Largest Marine Sanctuary.")

Bursting with life, the islands are home to some 7,000 plant and animal species, many of which are found nowhere else in the world. This remote Eden, however, is under threat from fishing, coral harvesting, discarded nets and plastic, and rising seas due to global warming. (See "Global Warming May Swamp Hawaiian Wildlife, Study Warns" [June 5].)

Explore the new sanctuary up close and from far above in this video clip featuring stunning sea life, electric blue oceans, and the tragic tale of Shed Bird—and understand why these islands are, as photographer David Liittschwager says, "irreplaceable."