Kirkeøy is the largest island in the Norwegian municipality of Hvaler. Its name means "church island" and is derived from Hvaler Church which is on the island and is also the main church of the municipality. The island covers an area of 29.6 square kilometres (11.4 sq mi) and had a population of 1345 inhabitants as of 2017. Like the other Hvaler islands, Kirkeøy's topography is marked by granite outcrops, several inlets, and mixed forest dominated by Scots pine and silver birch. At the southern end of the island lies the village of Skjærhalden, which is also the administrative centre of the municipality. There are several holiday cottages on the island, which is a popular destination for tourists in the summer. The island is connected with the mainland through a 1.8 kilometres (1.1 mi) lon