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About

Kahoolawe is the smallest of the 8 main volcanic islands in the Hawaiian Islands. It is located 11.2 km (7 miles) southwest of Maui and southeast of La-nai and is 18 km (11 miles) long by 10 km (6 miles) across. Total area is 115.595 km² (44.63 mile²). The highest point is the crater of Lua Makika at the summit of Puu Moaulanui, which is 450 m (1,477 ft) above sea level. The island is relatively dry because the low elevation fails to generate much orographic precipitation from the northeastern trade winds and it is located in the rain shadow of Maui's 3055 m (10,023 ft) high East Maui Volcano (Haleakala). More than one quarter of the island has been eroded down to saprolitic hardpan.

In 1993, the Hawaii State Legislature established the Kahoolawe Island Reserve, consisting of "the entire island and its surrounding ocean waters in a two mile (3 km) radius from the shore". By State Law, Kahoolawe and its waters can only be used for Native Hawaiian cultural, spiritual and subsistence purposes; fishing; environmental restoration; historic preservation; and education. Commercial uses are prohibited. The Legislature also created the Kahoolawe Island Reserve Commission (KIRC) to manage the Reserve while it is held in trust for a future Native Hawaiian Sovereignty entity. The restoration of Kahoolawe will require a strategy to control erosion, re-establish vegetation, recharge the water table, and gradually replace alien plants with native species. Plans will include methods for damming gullies and reducing rainwater runoff. In some areas, non-native plants will temporarily stabilize soils before planting of permanent native species.

In an archipelago like the Hawaiian Islands the water between islands is typically called a channel or passage. The Alalakeiki Channel separates the islands of Kahoolawe and Maui, Ke ala i kahiki channel is the channel between Kahoolawe and Lanai. It literally means "the road to Tahiti"; if one takes a bearing off of Kealaikahiki point while in the channel and heads directly straight, one arrives in Tahiti. In practice, however, Polynesian navigators probably did not quite ply a straight route to Tahiti.

The 'Au'au Channel is one of the most protected areas of ocean in the Hawaiian Islands, lying between Lanai and Maui. The channel is also protected by Molokai to the north, and Kahoolawe to the south. The depth of the channel reaches 108 feet (33 m). 'Au'au channel is also a whale-watching center in the Hawaiian Islands.

Facts

• Area is 116 square kilometers (45 square miles).
• Smallest of the eight main Hawaiian Islands.
• Length is 18 kilometers (11 miles).
• Width is 10 kilometers (6 miles).
• Farthest distance to ocean from any point is 3.8 kilometers (2.4 miles).
• Average annual rainfall is less than 63.5 centimeters (25 inches).
• Maximum elevation is 450 meters (1,477 feet), at Lua Makika.
• Length of general coastline is 47 kilometers (29 miles).
• Length of tidal shoreline is 58 kilometers (36 miles).
• Population today is 0.
• Population in 1866 was 18 on the whole island.
• Population in 1831 was 80 on the whole island.
• 46 kilometers (29 miles) of sea cliffs of heights 30–300 meters (100–1000 feet).

You can find more information about Kahoolawe from these websites:

• Protect Kahoolawe Ohana
• The home page for the Kaho`olawe Island Reserve Commission.
• Kahoolawe Weather Information
• Kahoolawe: Meaningful, Safe Use
• Bishop Museum
• Natural Areas of Hawaii - Kahoolawe