Kauai, () anglicized as Kauai ( ), is geologically the second-oldest of the main
Hawaiian Islands
The Hawaiian Islands ( haw, Nā Mokupuni o Hawai‘i) are an archipelago of eight major islands, several atolls, and numerous smaller islets in the North Pacific Ocean, extending some from the island of Hawaii in the south to northernmost Kur ...
(after Niʻihau). With an area of 562.3 square miles (1,456.4 km2), it is the fourth-largest of these islands and the 21st largest island in the United States. Nicknamed the Garden Isle, Kauai lies 73 miles (117 km) across the Kauai Channel, northwest of
Oahu
Oahu () (Hawaiian language, Hawaiian: ''Oʻahu'' ()), also known as "The Gathering place#Island of Oʻahu as The Gathering Place, Gathering Place", is the third-largest of the Hawaiian Islands. It is home to roughly one million people—over t ...
Na Pali Coast State Park
NA, N.A., Na, nA or n/a may refer to:
Chemistry and physics
* Sodium, symbol Na, a chemical element
* Avogadro constant (''N''A)
* Nucleophilic addition, a type of reaction in organic chemistry
* Numerical aperture, a number that characterizes a ...
.
The
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau (USCB), officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the U.S. Federal Statistical System, responsible for producing data about the American people and economy. The Census Bureau is part of the ...
defines Kauai as
census tract
A census tract, census area, census district or meshblock is a geographic region defined for the purpose of taking a census. Sometimes these coincide with the limits of cities, towns or other administrative areas and several tracts commonly exist ...
s 401 through 409 of Kauai County, Hawaii, which comprises all of the county except the islands of
Kaʻula
Kaʻula Island, also called Kaʻula Rock, is a small, crescent-shaped island in the Hawaiian Islands.
Mythology
In the legend of Papa and Wākea, Kaula is the seventh-born child.
Geography
It is located west-southwest of Kawaihoa Point on Ni ...
,
Lehua
Lehua Island is a small, crescent-shaped island in the Hawaiian islands, north of Niihau, due west of Kauai. The uninhabited, barren island is a tuff cone which is part of the active Niihau volcano.
Lehua was one of the first five islands ...
2020 United States census
The United States census of 2020 was the twenty-fourth decennial United States census. Census Day, the reference day used for the census, was April 1, 2020. Other than a pilot study during the 2000 census, this was the first U.S. census to of ...
population of the island was 73,298. The most populous town is
Kapaa
Kapaa (Kauai dialect: Tapaa) is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Kauai County, Hawaii, United States. It is the most populous town in the island of Kauai, with a population of 11,652 as of the 2020 census, up from ...
.
Etymology and language
Hawaiian narrative
Hawaiian religion refers to the ethnic religion, indigenous religious beliefs and practices of native Hawaiians, also known as the Kapu (Hawaiian culture), kapu system. Hawaiian religion is based largely on the Tapu (Polynesian culture), tapu reli ...
locates the name's origin in the legend of Hawaiiloa, the
Polynesia
Polynesia () "many" and νῆσος () "island"), to, Polinisia; mi, Porinihia; haw, Polenekia; fj, Polinisia; sm, Polenisia; rar, Porinetia; ty, Pōrīnetia; tvl, Polenisia; tkl, Polenihia (, ) is a subregion of Oceania, made up of ...
n navigator credited with discovery of the Hawaiian Islands. The story relates how he named the island of Kauai after a favorite son; a possible translation of Kauai is "place around the neck", describing how a father would carry a favorite child. Another possible translation is "food season".
Kauai was known for its distinct dialect of the
Hawaiian language
Hawaiian (', ) is a Polynesian language of the Austronesian language family that takes its name from Hawaii, the largest island in the tropical North Pacific archipelago where it developed. Hawaiian, along with English, is an official language o ...
; this survives on Niihau. While the standard language today is based on the dialect of
Hawaii island
Hawaii ( ; haw, Hawaii ) is the largest island in the United States, located in the state of Hawaii. It is the southeasternmost of the Hawaiian Islands, a chain of volcanic islands in the North Pacific Ocean. With an area of , it has 63% of t ...
, which has no sound, the Kauai dialect had this sound. This happened because the Kauai dialect had retained the old Polynesian sound, which has changed in the "standard" Hawaii dialect to . This difference applies to all words with these sounds, so the native name for Kauai was pronounced "Tauai", and
Kapaa
Kapaa (Kauai dialect: Tapaa) is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Kauai County, Hawaii, United States. It is the most populous town in the island of Kauai, with a population of 11,652 as of the 2020 census, up from ...
was pronounced "Tapaa"''.''
History
Polynesian inhabitants settled on the island hundreds of years before the arrival of Europeans, as shown by excavations dating back to as early as 200 A.D. to 600 A.D. These first inhabitants, originally from the
Marquesas Islands
The Marquesas Islands (; french: Îles Marquises or ' or '; Marquesan: ' ( North Marquesan) and ' ( South Marquesan), both meaning "the land of men") are a group of volcanic islands in French Polynesia, an overseas collectivity of France in th ...
, lived undisturbed for around five centuries until a second wave of seafarers arrived by sea-canoe from
Tahiti
Tahiti (; Tahitian ; ; previously also known as Otaheite) is the largest island of the Windward group of the Society Islands in French Polynesia. It is located in the central part of the Pacific Ocean and the nearest major landmass is Austr ...
. Many Hawaiian traditions and belief structures are rooted in the religion and practices that arrived with these Tahitians.
In 1778, Captain
James Cook
James Cook (7 November 1728 Old Style date: 27 October – 14 February 1779) was a British explorer, navigator, cartographer, and captain in the British Royal Navy, famous for his three voyages between 1768 and 1779 in the Pacific Ocean an ...
arrived at Waimea Bay, the first European known to have reached the Hawaiian islands. He named the archipelago the "Sandwich Isles" after his patron, the 6th Earl of Sandwich, George Montagu.
During the reign of King Kamehameha, the islands of Kauai and Niihau were the last Hawaiian Islands to join his
Kingdom of Hawaii
The Hawaiian Kingdom, or Kingdom of Hawaiʻi ( Hawaiian: ''Ko Hawaiʻi Pae ʻĀina''), was a sovereign state located in the Hawaiian Islands. The country was formed in 1795, when the warrior chief Kamehameha the Great, of the independent island ...
. Their ruler, Kaumualii, resisted Kamehameha for years. King Kamehameha twice prepared a huge armada of ships and canoes to take the islands by force, and twice failed, once because of a storm, and once because of an
epidemic
An epidemic (from Ancient Greek, Greek ἐπί ''epi'' "upon or above" and δῆμος ''demos'' "people") is the rapid spread of disease to a large number of patients among a given population within an area in a short period of time.
Epidemics ...
. But in the face of the threat of a further invasion, Kaumualii decided to join the kingdom without bloodshed, and became Kamehameha's vassal in 1810. He ceded the island to the Kingdom of Hawaii upon his death in 1824.
Kaumualiʻi
Kaumualiʻi (c. 1778–May 26, 1824) was the last independent aliʻi nui (supreme ruler of the island) of Kauaʻi and Niʻihau before becoming a vassal of Kamehameha I within the unified Kingdom of Hawaiʻi in 1810. He was the 23rd high chief of ...
signed an agreement to allow the Russians to build
Fort Elizabeth
Pā'ula'ula State Historical Park (Russian Fort Elizabeth) is a National Historic Landmark and is administered as the Pā'ula'ula State Historical Park just southeast of present-day Waimea on the island of Kauai in Hawaii. It is located at the s ...
, in an attempt to gain support from the Russians against Kamehameha I. Construction was begun in 1817, but in July of that year, under mounting resistance of
Native Hawaiians
Native Hawaiians (also known as Indigenous Hawaiians, Kānaka Maoli, Aboriginal Hawaiians, First Hawaiians, or simply Hawaiians) ( haw, kānaka, , , and ), are the indigenous ethnic group of Polynesian people of the Hawaiian Islands.
Hawaii ...
and American traders, the Russians were expelled. The settlement on Kauaʻi was an instance of a Pacific outpost of the
Russian Empire
The Russian Empire was an empire and the final period of the Russian monarchy from 1721 to 1917, ruling across large parts of Eurasia. It succeeded the Tsardom of Russia following the Treaty of Nystad, which ended the Great Northern War. ...
.
Old Sugar Mill of Koloa
In 1835, Old Koloa Town opened a sugar mill. From 1906 to 1934 the office of
County Clerk
A clerk is a white-collar worker who conducts general office tasks, or a worker who performs similar sales-related tasks in a retail environment. The responsibilities of clerical workers commonly include record keeping, filing, staffing service ...
was held by
John Mahiʻai Kāneakua
The Honourable John Mahi'ai Kāneakua (born John Mahi'ai Miller, September 9, 1860-January 26, 1936) was a noble of the non-ruling elite of the Kingdom of Hawaii, an attorney and politician. He was re-elected to the position of County Clerk of Ka ...
, who had been active in attempts to restore Queen Liliuokalani to the throne after the U.S. takeover of Hawaii in 1893.
Valdemar Knudsen
Valdemar Emil Knudsen was a Norwegian plantation pioneer who arrived on Kauai in 1857. Knudsen, or "Kanuka", originally arrived in Koloa, where he managed Grove Farm, but later sought a warmer land and purchased the leases to Mana and
Kekaha
Kekaha (literally, "the place" in Hawaiian) is a census-designated place (CDP) in Kauai County, Hawaii, United States. The population was 3,715 at the 2020 census, up from 3,175 at the 2000 census.
History
For most of the 20th century, the Ke ...
, where he became a successful sugarcane plantation owner. He settled in Waiawa, between Mana and Kekaha, immediately across the channel from Niʻihau Island. His son,
Eric Alfred Knudsen
Eric Alfred Knudsen (July 29, 1872 – February 12, 1957) was an American writer, folklorist, lawyer and politician who grew up and lived on Kauai, Hawaii. His father was Valdemar Knudsen, a west Kauai sugar plantation pioneer.
He married Ce ...
, was born in Waiawa.
Knudsen was appointed land administrator by King Kamehameha for an area covering 400 km2, and was given the title '' konohiki'' as well as a position as a nobility under the king. Knudsen, who spoke fluent Hawaiian, later became an elected representative and an influential politician on the island.
Knudsen lends his name to the Knudsen Gap, a narrow pass between Hã’upu Ridge and the Kahili Ridge. Its primary function was as a sugar farm planted by the Knudsen family.
Geography
Kauai's origins are
volcanic
A volcano is a rupture in the crust of a planetary-mass object, such as Earth, that allows hot lava, volcanic ash, and gases to escape from a magma chamber below the surface.
On Earth, volcanoes are most often found where tectonic plates a ...
, the island having been formed by the passage of the
Pacific Plate
The Pacific Plate is an oceanic tectonic plate that lies beneath the Pacific Ocean. At , it is the largest tectonic plate.
The plate first came into existence 190 million years ago, at the triple junction between the Farallon, Phoenix, and Iza ...
over the Hawaii hotspot. At approximately five million years old, it is the oldest of the main islands. It consists of a large eroded
shield volcano
A shield volcano is a type of volcano named for its low profile, resembling a warrior's shield lying on the ground. It is formed by the eruption of highly fluid (low viscosity) lava, which travels farther and forms thinner flows than the more v ...
with a diameter summit
caldera
A caldera ( ) is a large cauldron-like hollow that forms shortly after the emptying of a magma chamber in a volcano eruption. When large volumes of magma are erupted over a short time, structural support for the rock above the magma chamber is ...
and two flank calderas. Rejuvenation of the volcano 1.40–0.6 million years ago resulted in the eruption of
lava
Lava is molten or partially molten rock (magma) that has been expelled from the interior of a terrestrial planet (such as Earth) or a moon onto its surface. Lava may be erupted at a volcano or through a fracture in the crust, on land or un ...
s and cones over the eastern two-thirds of the island.
Kauai's highest peak is Kawaikini, at . The second-highest is
Mount Waialeale
Mount Waialeale is a shield volcano and the second highest point on the island of Kauai in the Hawaiian Islands. Its name literally means "rippling water" or "overflowing water"
The mountain, at an elevation of , averages more than of rain a ...
, near the center of the island, above sea level. One of the wettest spots on earth, with an annual average rainfall of , is on the east side of Mount Waialeale. The high annual rainfall has eroded deep valleys in the central mountains, carving out canyons with many scenic waterfalls. On the west side of the island, Waimea town is at the mouth of the Waimea River, whose flow formed Waimea Canyon, one of the world's most scenic canyons, which is part of Waimea Canyon State Park. At deep, Waimea Canyon is often called "The
Grand Canyon
The Grand Canyon (, yuf-x-yav, Wi:kaʼi:la, , Southern Paiute language: Paxa’uipi, ) is a steep-sided canyon carved by the Colorado River in Arizona, United States. The Grand Canyon is long, up to wide and attains a depth of over a m ...
of the Pacific".
Kokeo Point
Koke'e is a headland on the northwest coast of the island of Kauai in the Hawaiian Islands
The Hawaiian Islands ( haw, Nā Mokupuni o Hawai‘i) are an archipelago of eight major islands, several atolls, and numerous smaller islets in the N ...
lies on the island's south side. The Na Pali Coast is a center for recreation in a wild setting, including kayaking past the beaches, or hiking on the trail along the coastal cliffs. The headlands Kamala Point, Kawelikoa Point, Kuahonu Point, and Molehu Point are on the southeast of the island, and
Makaokahaʻi Point
Makaokaha'i Point is a jutting headland on the south coast of the island of Kauai in the Hawaiian Islands
The Hawaiian Islands ( haw, Nā Mokupuni o Hawai‘i) are an archipelago of eight major islands, several atolls, and numerous smaller i ...
is at the south.
Climate
Kauai's climate is tropical, with generally humid and stable conditions year-round, although weather phenomena and infrequent storms have caused instances of extreme weather. At the lower elevations, the annual precipitation varies from an average of about on the windward (northeastern) shore to less than on the (southwestern) leeward side of the island. The average temperature in Lihu'e, the county seat, ranges from in February to in August and September. Kauai's mountainous regions offer cooler temperatures and provide a pleasant contrast to the warm coastal areas. At the Kōkeʻe state park,
ASL
American Sign Language (ASL) is a natural language that serves as the predominant sign language of Deaf communities in the United States of America and most of Anglophone Canada. ASL is a complete and organized visual language that is express ...
, day temperatures vary from an average of in January to in July. In the winter, temperatures have been known to drop down to the 30s and 40s at Kōkeʻe state park, which holds an unofficial record low of recorded in February 1986 at Kanaloahuluhulu Meadow.
Precipitation in Kauai's mountainous regions averages annually. Situated about southeast of Kōkeʻe state park at an elevation of , is the Mt. Waialeale rain gauge. Mt. Waialeale is often cited in literature as being the wettest spot on earth, although this has been disputed. Based on data for the period from 1931 through 1960, the average yearly precipitation was (U.S. Environmental Science Services Administration, 1968). Between 1949 and 2004, the average yearly precipitation at Mt. Waialeale was .
Not only does Kauai hold a record in average yearly precipitation, it also holds a record in hourly precipitation. During a storm on January 24–25, 1956, a rain gauge at Kauai's former Kilauea Sugar Plantation recorded a record of precipitation in just 60 minutes. The value for one hour is an underestimate, since the rain gauge overflowed, which may have resulted in an error by as much as . An accurate measurement may have exceeded
Holt, Missouri
Holt is a city in Clay and Clinton counties in the U.S. state of Missouri and is part of the Kansas City metropolitan area. The population was 471 at the 2020 census.
History
Holt was platted in 1867. The city was named for Jeremiah Abel Holt ...
's world-record rainfall of in 42 minutes on June 22, 1947.
daylight saving time
Daylight saving time (DST), also referred to as daylight savings time or simply daylight time (United States, Canada, and Australia), and summer time (United Kingdom, European Union, and others), is the practice of advancing clocks (typicall ...
, for example, the time on Kauai is three hours behind the
West Coast of the United States
The West Coast of the United States, also known as the Pacific Coast, Pacific states, and the western seaboard, is the coastline along which the Western United States meets the North Pacific Ocean. The term typically refers to the contiguous U.S ...
and six hours behind the
East Coast
East Coast may refer to:
Entertainment
* East Coast hip hop, a subgenre of hip hop
* East Coast (ASAP Ferg song), "East Coast" (ASAP Ferg song), 2017
* East Coast (Saves the Day song), "East Coast" (Saves the Day song), 2004
* East Coast FM, a ra ...
Hanalei River
The Hanalei River on the island of Kauai in Hawaii flows north from the eastern slopes of Mount Waialeale for U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map accessed April 28, 2011 until it reach ...
*
Hanapēpē River
The Hanapepe River is a river on the Hawaiian island of Kauai. It begins at the confluence of the Kō'ula River with the Manuahi Stream and flows generally south, with a total length of U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-r ...
Wailua River
The Wailuā River is a major river on the island of Kauai in the U.S. state of Hawaii. long, it is one of the largest river,U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map accessed April 28, 2011 ...
*
Makaweli River
Kaumakani (literally, "place in the wind" in the Hawaiian language) is a census-designated place (CDP) in Kauai County, Hawaii, United States. The population was 749 at the 2010 census, up from 607 at the 2000 census.
History
Kaumakani was off ...
Anahola River
Anahola (literally "deadly winds" in Hawaiian) is a census-designated place (CDP) in Kauai County, Hawaii, United States. The population was 2,311 at the 2020 census, up from 1,932 at the 2000 census.
History
During the reign of King Kameh ...
*
Lumahaʻi River
The Lumaha'i River (''ahupuha’a'') is a river of northern Kauai, Hawaii, US. It begins in a narrow, high-walled valley in the central mountains and enters the Pacific Ocean on the northwestern coast of the island, just east of Wainiha, Hawaii, ...
*
Kōʻula River
The Kō'ula River or Koula is the largest tributary of the Hanapēpē River on the Hawaiian island of Kauai
Kauai, () anglicized as Kauai ( ), is geologically the second-oldest of the main Hawaiian Islands (after Niʻihau). With an area of ...
Halii Falls
Haley is an English surname. It is based on a place name derived from Old English ''heg'' "hay" and ''leah'' "clearing or meadow",Katie Martin-Doyle, ''The Treasury of Baby Names'', Worth Press, Cambridge 2005.
The surname Haley was found in ...