The Islands of HawaiiThe Islands of Hawaii

Youngest to OldestYoungest to Oldest

Hawaiian IslandsHawaiian IslandsHawaii has a wide variety of plant, marine and animal life.

•Many species are rare and endangered including:

• the giant Pacific Green Sea Turtle (which can grow to 400 pounds)

• the Nene Goose (the official state bird)

•the Humpback Whale (the official state marine mammal).

Hawaiian EconomyHawaiian Economy

Most money comes from:Most money comes from:– TourismTourism

$11.6 billion (2005)$11.6 billion (2005)

– Federal Defense (Military) SpendingFederal Defense (Military) Spending$4.8 billion (2003)$4.8 billion (2003)

– ConstructionConstruction$3.5 billion (2005)$3.5 billion (2005)

– AgricultureAgricultureMost of Hawaii’s coffee, fruits, nuts, and pineapples are Most of Hawaii’s coffee, fruits, nuts, and pineapples are grown on the Big Islandgrown on the Big Island

Sugar cane no longer produced on Big IslandSugar cane no longer produced on Big Island

The Big Island (Hawaii)The Big Island (Hawaii)• The youngest island in the Hawaiian chain

• Formed by five volcanoes.

• Two are still active: Mauna Loa and Kilauea, the world's most continuously active volcano.

Hawaii, the largest of the Hawaiian Islands, isnicknamed "The Big Island" because it istwice the combined size of the other islands.

BIG ISLAND CLIMATEBIG ISLAND CLIMATE– Like most of the Hawaiian Islands, Like most of the Hawaiian Islands,

Big Island has only two seasons: Big Island has only two seasons: “Summer" between May and “Summer" between May and October and “Winter" between October and “Winter" between October and April. October and April.

Depending upon location:Depending upon location:

Average temperature ranges from Average temperature ranges from 71 to 77 (°F) in the coastal regions.71 to 77 (°F) in the coastal regions.

– Kailua-Kona average temperature:Kailua-Kona average temperature:

Jan.-Feb. 72 (°F)Jan.-Feb. 72 (°F)

Aug.-Sept. 77 (°F)Aug.-Sept. 77 (°F)

Average annual rainfall ranges from Average annual rainfall ranges from 10 inches on leeward coast to 128 10 inches on leeward coast to 128 inches on windward coast. inches on windward coast. 

BIG ISLAND CULTURAL HISTORYBIG ISLAND CULTURAL HISTORY– Big Island is a multi-cultural society with Big Island is a multi-cultural society with

major immigration from:major immigration from:Polynesia - 700 A.D.Polynesia - 700 A.D.United States - 1820United States - 1820China - 1852China - 1852Japan – 1868Japan – 1868

PopulationPopulation– 163,000 (2005)163,000 (2005)

MAUIMAUIThe second youngest island The second youngest island in the Hawaiian chainin the Hawaiian chain

Population: 138,000 (2005)Population: 138,000 (2005)

Made up of two volcanoesMade up of two volcanoes

Both erupted many years Both erupted many years ago and erosion over the ago and erosion over the years joined them into one years joined them into one island, giving Maui its island, giving Maui its nickname the Valley Island. nickname the Valley Island.

Maui GeographyMaui Geography  Maui County includes the Maui County includes the islands of:islands of:– Maui (the Valley Island, 727.3 Maui (the Valley Island, 727.3

square miles with 120 miles square miles with 120 miles of coastline)of coastline)

– Molokai (the Friendly Island)Molokai (the Friendly Island)

– Lanai (the Most Enticing Lanai (the Most Enticing Island, formerly known as the Island, formerly known as the Pineapple Island) Pineapple Island)

– Kahoolawe (the uninhabited Kahoolawe (the uninhabited Forbidden Island, formerly Forbidden Island, formerly used as a bombing practice used as a bombing practice range by the U.S. Navy and range by the U.S. Navy and Air Force, it is now being Air Force, it is now being restored and revegetated).restored and revegetated).

OAHUOAHU

• Oahu (the second oldest island in the Hawaiian chain) is made up of two volcanoes: the Waianae and the Koolau Mountains.

• Population: • 899,000 (2005)• 102,000 U.S. Military personnel live on Oahu

•Site of Hawaii’s biggest city and state capitol: Honolulu

OAHU (cont’d)OAHU (cont’d)

• Home of Pearl Harbor naval base, where Japanese attacked December 7, 1941

Ni’ihau IslandNi’ihau Island

The Forbidden IslandThe Forbidden Island4.9 million years old4.9 million years old18 miles from Kauai18 miles from KauaiSmallest of the inhabited Smallest of the inhabited islandsislandsPopulation: 130 (2009)Population: 130 (2009)Purchased by the Purchased by the Robinson family in 1864Robinson family in 1864– $10,000$10,000– A “private island” ever A “private island” ever

since 1915 (no visitors!)since 1915 (no visitors!)

Life on Ni’ihauLife on Ni’ihau

Nearly all residents are native Nearly all residents are native HawaiianHawaiianAll live rent free, and are All live rent free, and are provided with free meatprovided with free meatIsland runs entirely on solar Island runs entirely on solar powerpowerNo phones, no cars, to TVs, no No phones, no cars, to TVs, no radios! NOT ALLOWED!radios! NOT ALLOWED!Residents must speak Native Residents must speak Native Hawaiian languageHawaiian languageGroceries delivered by boat from Groceries delivered by boat from KauaiKauaiHorseback is main form of Horseback is main form of transportationtransportation

KAUAIKAUAILeast populous of the Hawaiian Least populous of the Hawaiian islandsislands

Population: 62,000 (2005)Population: 62,000 (2005)

The oldest of Hawaii's major The oldest of Hawaii's major islands islands

Was formed 5 million years ago Was formed 5 million years ago from a single shield volcano from a single shield volcano that has become deeply eroded that has become deeply eroded with time and volcanic action - with time and volcanic action - producing both the Grand producing both the Grand Canyon of the Pacific Canyon of the Pacific (Waimea) and the stunning sea (Waimea) and the stunning sea cliffs along the Na Pali coast. cliffs along the Na Pali coast.

Kauai ClimateKauai Climate

Average annual Average annual rainfall ranges from rainfall ranges from 35 inches at Poi’pu 35 inches at Poi’pu Beach to Beach to 444 inches444 inches at the summit of at the summit of Waialeale (wettest Waialeale (wettest spots in the United spots in the United States!). States!).