Geography of Geography of HawaiiHawaii

Lecture #1Lecture #1

What’s in a name?What’s in a name?

Originally called the Originally called the “Sandwich Islands” by “Sandwich Islands” by English explorer English explorer Captain James Cook in Captain James Cook in 17781778

““Hawa” means Hawa” means “traditional homeland”“traditional homeland”

““ii” means small and ii” means small and ragingraging

The name The name “Hawaii“Hawaii” stands ” stands for two things:for two things:

1.1. The big island is The big island is called Hawaiicalled Hawaii

2.2. The group of island The group of island all together are all together are known as Hawaiiknown as Hawaii

Kaho’olawe

Hawaii

Where is Hawaii?Where is Hawaii?

PolynesiaPolynesia

Hawaii is part Hawaii is part of a group of of a group of islands called islands called “Polynesia”“Polynesia”

Ring of FireRing of Fire• Hawaii is part of the “Ring of Fire”, a chain of volcanoes that border the Pacific Plate

•The Pacific Plate is moving towards Asia about 3 inches per year

VolcanoesVolcanoes Hawaii was created Hawaii was created

from active volcanoesfrom active volcanoes

Volcanoes on Kauai Volcanoes on Kauai stopped erupting stopped erupting millions of years agomillions of years ago

The Kilauea volcano on The Kilauea volcano on the Big Island has been the Big Island has been erupting continuously erupting continuously for the last 20 years!for the last 20 years!

How do Hotspots work?How do Hotspots work?

Shield VolcanoesShield VolcanoesAs the islands move off of the hot spot (under the Big Island right now), wind and water start eroding the soil on the islands

This causes the islands to have different shapes

Hot lava!Hot lava!

Different Kinds of LavaDifferent Kinds of Lava

Pahoe’hoePahoe’hoe– Lava flowing like waterLava flowing like water– Can flow uphill!Can flow uphill!– RopeyRopey– Erupts slowlyErupts slowly

A’aA’a– Spewing, shootingSpewing, shooting– Stoney, roughStoney, rough– Erupts quicklyErupts quickly

Old & Young IslandsOld & Young Islands

Oldest IslandOldest Island– Ni’ihauNi’ihau

Youngest IslandYoungest Island– Lo’ihi (under water still)Lo’ihi (under water still)– Big Island (still growing!)Big Island (still growing!)

ElevationElevation Lowest PointLowest Point

– Ni’ihau Island - 1280 ft.Ni’ihau Island - 1280 ft.

Highest PointHighest Point– Big Island - 13,800 ftBig Island - 13,800 ft

Dry Sides and Wet SidesDry Sides and Wet Sides

Windward sides of Windward sides of the island get more the island get more rainrain– Side that faces the Side that faces the

“Trade winds”“Trade winds”– Usually the northeast Usually the northeast

sides of the islandsides of the island

Leeward sides of the Leeward sides of the island gets drier airisland gets drier air