Lava wetlands are crucial components of the wetland ecosystem with wide distribution in the volcanic areas of northern Hainan Island. The ecological security of lava wetlands directly threatens the ecological security of the connecting hydro-land ecology systems. Based on the Landsat remote sensing images, DEM data, vegetation cover index,this study assessed the landscape patch-scale stability and sensitivity dynamic changes (1988-2018) of the lava wetlands in northern Hainan Island by constructing a stability-sensitivity evaluation system, aiming to explore the distribution patterns of ecological security in that region. The results showed that (1) in 1988 and 2018, the stability of wetland patches presented the highest in Fucheng Town, Chengxi Town, Longquan town and other main distribution areas of lava wetlands. On the contrary, the southwest agricultural area and the north coastal area showed the weakest. (2) During the period of 1988-2018, the stability of lava wetlands showed an overall increasing trend with its gravity center of area and stability shifting toward the south, together with a contraction in the east-west dimension. (3) The extremely- and highly sensitive areas in the study area were mainly distributed in the wetland densely distributed areas, whereas the non-sensitive areas were mainly distributed in the northern study area of Haikou City and the utilized coastal towns which were used more. (4) Stability was positively corelated with sensitivity. Specifically, wetland patches with low stability, such as the coastal and urban areas, were characterized by low ecological sensitivity and insensitivity, whereas wetland patches with high stability usually showed high sensitivity. The results suggested that although there were more stable structure and higher anti-interference ability in natural systems than that in artificial ecosystems, natural systems are more easily to be destructed with longer recovery cycle. Therefore, highly sensitive areas needed to be treated cautiously in urbanization practices as well as other anthropogenic disturbance.