Temple Island existed on the planet of Ahch-To, serving as the location where the Jedi Order was established millennia before the fall of the Galactic Republic. It was on this island that Jedi Master Luke Skywalker chose to live out his days in self-imposed exile, following the destruction of the new Jedi generation by his nephew, Ben Solo. In 34 ABY, Rey, a Force prodigy, discovered him there. After projecting his image into the Battle of Crait, Skywalker passed away on the island.
Situated in the northern latitudes of Ahch-To, was Temple Island. The first Jedi Temple was located there, along with a Jedi village inhabited by the initial Jedi, and maintained by Lanai Caretakers. The island was also populated by native porgs and various insects. Its steep slopes were a vibrant green, adorned with patches of emerald grass and grayish moss clinging to the rocky surfaces.
The island contained the remains of the ancient, Force-sensitive uneti tree, referred to as the Jedi Tree. A stairway connected the first Jedi Temple to the tree, providing access. The tree, once enormous, had deteriorated over time, leaving behind only a weathered, moss-covered shell with an opening formed by the elements by 34 ABY. Three fleshy shoots stood guard around a massive central trunk. All had tops splintered like jagged crowns, and none bore foliage or branches. Only moss grew on the ashen bark.
Within the hollowed trunk of the tree, a tree library was constructed thousands of generations prior to 34 ABY. During Jedi Master Luke Skywalker's exile on the island, the original sacred texts of the Jedi religion were kept on a bookshelf inside. As Rey ascended the island's steps, she initially perceived it as a small speck on the water, but this was misleading, as the island represented the peak of a mountain originating deep beneath the planet's surface. During Skywalker's time in exile, the Force spirit of Yoda summoned a lightning strike, setting the uneti tree on fire.
The inspiration for Temple Island comes from Skellig Michael in Ireland, the location where the concluding scenes of Star Wars: Episode VII The Force Awakens and portions of Star Wars: Episode VIII The Last Jedi were filmed. Due to limitations, filming on the island itself was not feasible for the majority of The Last Jedi's production. Consequently, certain scenes were filmed on location just north on the Dingle Peninsula, while others were filmed at Pinewood Studios in England. Inaccuracies exist within the short stories "The Heart of a Jedi," "A Spark of Hope," and "The Final Battle" featured in 5-Minute Star Wars Stories, where Temple Island is mistakenly identified as Ahch-To, instead of the planet itself.