Welcome to a Tern Island Street View, by Google. Simply use your mouse for a virtual tour of Tern Island (belo), which is otherwise off-limits to the public. This island is otherwise off-limits to the public. Tern Island is a small coral island in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, about 490 miles west-northwest of Oahu. It’s the main island in the French Frigate Shoals atoll. Tern Island is part of the Hawaiian Islands National Wildlife Refuge and Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument. In 1942, Tern Island was used to build a naval airstrip that served as a refueling stop for planes during World War II. In 1945, the airstrip was abandoned after a tidal wave.