The Islands of Hawaii

1. The Islands of Hawaii Youngest to Oldest

2. Hawaiian Islands • Hawaii 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).

3. Hawaiian Economy • Most money comes from: • Tourism • $11.6 billion (2005) • Federal Defense (Military) Spending • $4.8 billion (2003) • Construction • $3.5 billion (2005) • Agriculture • Most of Hawaii’s coffee, fruits, nuts, and pineapples are grown on the Big Island • Sugar cane no longer produced on Big Island

4. 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.

5. BIG ISLAND CLIMATE • Like most of the Hawaiian Islands, Big Island has only two seasons: “Summer" between May and October and “Winter" between October and April. Depending upon location: • Average temperature ranges from 71 to 77 (°F) in the coastal regions. • Kailua-Kona average temperature: • Jan.-Feb. 72 (°F) • Aug.-Sept. 77 (°F) • Average annual rainfall ranges from 10 inches on leeward coast to 128 inches on windward coast. 

6. BIG ISLAND CULTURAL HISTORY • Big Island is a multi-cultural society with major immigration from: • Polynesia - 700 A.D. • United States - 1820 • China - 1852 • Japan – 1868 • Population • 163,000 (2005)

7. MAUI • The second youngest island in the Hawaiian chain • Population: 138,000 (2005) • Made up of two volcanoes • Both erupted many years ago and erosion over the years joined them into one island, giving Maui its nickname the Valley Island.

8. Maui Geography • Maui County includes the islands of: • Maui (the Valley Island, 727.3 square miles with 120 miles of coastline) • Molokai (the Friendly Island) • Lanai (the Most Enticing Island, formerly known as the Pineapple Island) • Kahoolawe (the uninhabited Forbidden Island, formerly used as a bombing practice range by the U.S. Navy and Air Force, it is now being restored and revegetated).

9. OAHU • 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

10. OAHU (cont’d) • Home of Pearl Harbor naval base, where Japanese attacked December 7, 1941

11. Ni’ihau Island • The Forbidden Island • 4.9 million years old • 18 miles from Kauai • Smallest of the inhabited islands • Population: 130 (2009) • Purchased by the Robinson family in 1864 • $10,000 • A “private island” ever since 1915 (no visitors!)

12. Life on Ni’ihau • Nearly all residents are native Hawaiian • All live rent free, and are provided with free meat • Island runs entirely on solar power • No phones, no cars, to TVs, no radios! NOT ALLOWED! • Residents must speak Native Hawaiian language • Groceries delivered by boat from Kauai • Horseback is main form of transportation

13. KAUAI • Least populous of the Hawaiian islands • Population: 62,000 (2005) • The oldest of Hawaii's major islands • Was formed 5 million years ago from a single shield volcano that has become deeply eroded with time and volcanic action - producing both the Grand Canyon of the Pacific (Waimea) and the stunning sea cliffs along the Na Pali coast.

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