King Island is an island located in the southern village of Wales, Alaska, United States. The small island was the home of Asiuluk or as they liked to call themselves “the people of the sea”. They mainly used this island during the winter season. The island is under the Bering Sea Unit of the Alaska Maritime national wildlife refuge.

Establishment of King Island

King Island was named by James Cook, the first European to be seen in the area in 1778. During winter seasons, Asiuluk or the people of the sea used the island as their home to escape from the ravaging cold. They carried out activities such as hunting seals, walruses, crabs, fishing and gathering birds’ eggs, and many more as their food.  Men who were in charge of provision spent most of their time hunting and gathering food during summers. Some sold and traded their cravings for food and clothes while others strictly hunted. Women were in charge of keeping the house and stores in order and teaching the children how to work. Young men who were strong and able accompanied their fathers to hunting grounds. When winter approached, everyone knew their roles, and all the granaries were emptied and taken to the Island where they would call their home for the next six months. One would think that the constant movement made their lives difficult, but no, they enjoyed their seasonal migration like wildebeests enjoys theirs in East Africa.  

Fall of King Island

During World War II, men were forced to fight in the world war where most of them died. This left only the women, elderly, and children cutting off the productive adults to the war. They were left to feed for themselves. Later in the years, there was an outbreak of tuberculosis on the island. The disease killed most of the residents on the island.  In 1959, the only operating school was closed by the Bureau of Indian Affairs which came after a rock fell in the area. The remaining population together with their children relocated to mainland Alaska as it had better medical care, schools, and jobs which was not the case on the island. The island was left abandoned and has been a ghost town ever since.

Current condition

King Island is a modern-day ghost town. Some of the residents in mainland Alaska still visit the island to gather food such as walrus and seals. A national science foundation funded a research project on the island in the early 21st century. Some of the Islanders were involved in the project bringing them back to the island. The project entailed the research on the progress of science to advance the national health, welfare and secure the national defense on the island. They also researched tsunami and hurricane disasters. The Island is explorable to any local who feels like visiting.