In early 1962, the island provided a home to nine crewmen of the sunken tuna clipper MV Monarch, stranded for 23 days from 6 February to 1 March. They reported that the lagoon water was drinkable, although they preferred to drink water from the coconuts they found. Unable to use any of the dilapidated buildings, they constructed a crude shelter from cement bags and tin salvaged from Quonset huts built by the American military 20 years earlier.
In early 1962, an island provided refuge for nine crew members stranded on it after their tuna clipper, MV Monarch, sank in February 1962. They had access to drinkable water from the lagoon but preferred drinking coconut water. Unable to use existing structures, they built a makeshift shelter using salvaged materials like cement bags and tin from old Quonset huts.