Hawaiian Islands

The Hawaiian Islands (Hawaiian: Mokupuni Hawaiʻi) are a group of islands in the North Pacific Ocean. There are eight big volcanic islands, some small atolls, and many tiny islets. They stretch about 1,500 miles (2,400 kilometers) from the island of Hawaiʻi in the south to Kure Atoll in the north. Europeans used to call them the Sandwich Islands, but now they are called by the name of their biggest island, Hawaiʻi.

These islands sit on the Pacific Plate. They are the tops of a huge underwater mountain range called the Hawaiian–Emperor seamount chain. This range was made by old volcanic activity over the Hawaiian hotspot. The islands are far from any continent, about 1,860 miles (3,000 km) from the nearest one. They are part of the Polynesia area of Oceania.

The U.S. state of Hawaii covers most of the islands, except for Midway Atoll, which belongs to the United States Minor Outlying Islands. Hawaii is the only U.S. state that is completely made of islands. It is also the only state not connected to North America. The northwestern islands and the water around them are protected as a national monument and World Heritage Site.

Islands and reefs

The Hawaiian Islands cover an area of 6,423 square miles. Besides Midway, these islands are part of Hawaii, the 50th state of the United States.

The eight main islands of Hawaii are listed above. People live on all of these islands except Kaho'olawe.

Hawaii has 137 "islands" in its chain. This includes smaller islands, tiny islands near the shore, and tiny islands grouped together. Some of these are:

• Kaʻula
• Kāohikaipu
• Lehua
• Mānana
• Mōkōlea Rock
• Mokoliʻi
• Moku Manu
• Mokuauia
• Moku o Loʻe
• Moku Ola
• Mokuʻumeʻume
• Molokini
• Nā Mokulua

Partial islands, groups of islands joined together, and coral reefs west of Niʻihau are not lived on except Midway Atoll. These include:

• Nīhoa (Mokumana)
• Necker (Mokumanamana)
• French Frigate Shoals (Kānemilohaʻi)
• Gardner Pinnacles (Pūhāhonu)
• Maro Reef (Nalukākala)
• Laysan (Kauō)
• Lisianski Island (Papaʻāpoho)
• Pearl and Hermes Atoll (Holoikauaua)
• Midway Atoll (Pihemanu)
• Kure Atoll (Mokupāpapa)

Geology

Main article: Hawaii hotspot

Further information: List of rivers of Hawaii

This group of islands, called an archipelago, formed when the Pacific Plate moved over a hot spot in the Earth's mantle. The southeast island still has active volcanoes, while the islands at the northwest end are older and smaller because they have been worn down by erosion. The oldest island, Kure Atoll, is about 28 million years old. The youngest, Hawaiʻi, is only about 400,000 years old. The only recent volcanic activity has been on Hawaiʻi and on a growing underwater volcano called Kamaʻehuakanaloa (formerly Loʻihi). The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory of the USGS keeps track of volcanic activity. Kīlauea erupted many times from 1983 until it stopped in 2018.

Most of the magma that feeds these volcanoes is a type of rock called basalt, which makes the eruptions usually not too explosive. Hawaiʻi, the Big Island, is the largest and youngest. It has five volcanoes, with Mauna Loa being the largest shield volcano on Earth. From the ocean surface to its top, Mauna Loa is more than 2.5 miles (4 km) high.

Earthquakes

Main article: List of earthquakes in Hawaii

The Hawaiian Islands often have earthquakes linked to volcanic activity. These earthquakes happen most often near active volcanoes like Mauna Loa and Kilauea. The shaking can be caused by the movement of magma and the land sliding. Earthquakes can sometimes cause tsunamis.

People have kept records of earthquakes in Hawaii since the 1800s. Today, the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory run by the USGS monitors them.

On October 15, 2006, there was an earthquake with a strength of 6.7 near the island of Hawaii. It caused some damage but no serious injuries. On May 4, 2018, there was a 6.9 earthquake near Kīlauea.

Earthquakes are watched closely by the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory run by the USGS.

Tsunamis

The Hawaiian Islands can be hit by tsunamis, big waves caused by earthquakes far away in the Pacific. These waves move very fast and can affect the islands even if the earthquake is thousands of miles away.

Sometimes, tsunamis can start in Hawaii too. Big volcanic explosions or underwater landslides can create them. Coastal areas have warning sirens.

A tsunami from an earthquake in Chile reached the islands on February 27, 2010. It was small, but people prepared for a bigger one. A tsunami from an earthquake in Japan came on March 11, 2011. It caused damage.

Volcanoes

Main article: List of volcanoes in the Hawaiian–Emperor seamount chain

Only the two southeast islands, Maui and the Big Island, have active volcanoes. These include Haleakalā on Maui and Mauna Loa, Mauna Kea, Kilauea, and Hualalai on the Big Island. The other islands’ volcanoes are no longer active. An underwater volcano called the Kamaʻehuakanaloa Seamount may become the next island in about 10,000 to 100,000 years. Volcanoes can cause lava flows, gases, earthquakes, and tsunamis.

History

Main article: History of Hawaii

The Hawaiian Islands were first settled by people from Tahiti or the Marquesas Islands. This happened between 940 and 1130 C.E.

In 1778, British explorer James Cook was the first European to see the islands. With new tools, Kamehameha I united the islands into one kingdom in 1795. This kingdom grew strong through farming and its place in the Pacific Ocean.

After Cook’s visit, many people from different places moved to Hawaii. Farmers from Japan, China, and the Philippines came to work on plantations. The kingdom allowed everyone equal rights. Sadly, the number of Native Hawaiians got smaller over time but began to grow again later. In 1893, Queen Liliʻuokalani was removed from power. Hawaii became a U.S. territory in 1898. In 1959, Hawaii became the 50th American state.

Ecology

See also: Endemism in the Hawaiian Islands, List of animal species introduced to the Hawaiian Islands, and List of invasive plant species in Hawaii

The Hawaiian Islands have many special animals and plants that live only there. When humans first arrived, they brought new animals like rats and pigs. These new animals hurt the native birds and insects that had never faced predators before. As more people came, forests were cut down for farming and building towns. This made many forest animals disappear, and many others are now in danger.

The way people farmed changed when Europeans arrived. They cleared more forests to grow single crops and raise animals, which hurt even more native species. Many of Hawaii's special plants and animals are still at risk.

National Monument

On June 15, 2006, President George W. Bush created the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument. This area includes the northwestern Hawaiian Islands and the waters around them. It is the biggest marine reserve in the world. In August 2010, experts named it one of the most important places in the world. Then, on August 26, 2016, President Barack Obama made it four times bigger.

Climate

Main article: Climate of Hawaii

The Hawaiian Islands have a tropical climate, but the weather can vary depending on height and location. The islands receive most of their rain from winds that come from the north and east. Areas on the south and west sides are usually drier.

The islands are driest from May to September and get more rain during the winter months from October to April. Sometimes tropical storms and hurricanes can occur from July to November. Summer temperatures are around 84 °F (29 °C), and winter temperatures are about 79 °F (26 °C). The temperature doesn’t change much during the year, so severe thunderstorms are rare.