Hawaii (island) Geology And Geography Economy Important Towns

It is estimated that as of the year 2003, the island had a resident population of 158,423 persons.

1 Geology and geography

The Island of Hawai‘i is built from five separate shield volcanoes that erupted somewhat sequentially, one overlapping the other. These are (from oldest to youngest): Kohala (extinct), Mauna Kea (dormant), Huallai (dormant), Mauna Loa (active, partly within Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park), and Kilauea (very active; part of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park). Interpretation of geological evidence from exposures of old surfaces on the south and west flanks of Mauna Loa led to the proposal that two ancient volcanic shields (named Ninole and Kulani) were all but buried by the younger Mauna Loa (MacDonald and Abbott, 1970). Geologists now consider these "outcrops" to be part of the earlier building of Mauna Loa.

In greatest dimension, the Island is 93 miles (150 km) across and has a land area of 4,038 mile² (10,458 km²), representing more than half (~62% actually) of the total land area of the Hawaiian Islands. Traditionally, Hawai‘i is known as the Big Island because it is the largest of the Hawaiian Islands and some confusion between Hawai‘i Island and Hawai‘i State can be avoided.

Because Mauna Loa and Kilauea are active volcanoes, the island of Hawai‘i is still growing. Between January 1983 and September 2002, 220 hectares (543 ac) of land were added to the island by lava flows from Kilauea volcano extending the coastline seaward. Several towns have been destroyed by Kilauea lava flows in modern times: Kapoho (1960), Kalapana (1990), and Kaimu (1990).

Hawai‘i is the southernmost island in the Hawaiian archipelago. The nearest landfall to the south would be in the Line Islands. To the north is the island of MauiMaui is also the name of the mythological demigod of various Polynesian cultures, including that of ancient Hawai‘i; see Maui (mythology). Maui is the second-largest of the Hawaiian Islands at 727 square miles (1883 km²). Native Hawaiian tradition gives t, whose East Maui Volcano (Haleakalā) is visible across the Alenuihaha ChannelIn an archipelago like the Hawaiian Islands the water between islands is typically called a channel or passage''. Described here are the channels between the islands of Hawai'i, arranged from south to north. Alenuihaha Channel The Alenuihaha Channel separ (see photo at left).

18 miles (29 kilometers) off Hawai‘i Island's southeast coast is the undersea volcano known as Lo‘ihiLo'ihi seamount is an undersea volcano in the Hawaiian archipelago. Located at 18. 27W—roughly 30 km (19 mi) south of the southeast coast of the Island of Hawai'i—it is one of three very active volcanoes (the other two are Mauna Loa and Kilauea) thought t. Lo‘ihi is an actively erupting seamount that lies 3,200 feet (975 meters) below the surface of the ocean. It is thought that continued volcanic activity from Lo‘ihi will cause the volcano to eventually breach sea level and later attach at the surface onto Kilauea, adding even more land to Hawai‘i's surface area. This "event" is presently predicted for a date several tens of thousands of years in the future. right ‘Akaka FallsAkaka Falls State Park is a state park in Hawai‘i, located 11 miles north from Hilo (at the end of County Rte. 22) on the Island of Hawai‘i. It includes Akaka Falls the Big Island's tallest waterfall at 442 ft. Akaka is the Hawaiian name for this feature.

2 Economy

Sugarcanespontaneum ''S. robustum ''S. officinarum ''S. barberi ''S. sinense ''S. edule Ref: as of 2004-05-05 Sugarcane is one of six species of a tall tropical southeast Asian grass (Family Poaceae) having stout fibrous jointed stalks whose sap at one time was th was the backbone of Hawai‘i Island's economyThe word economy can refer to any of several things: the "economy" of the world — see world economy the "economy" of a country — see economics and economic system Hydrogen economy Judicial economy Political economy Plutonium economy Economy (Eastern Ortho for more than a century. In the mid-twentieth century, sugar plantations began to downsize and by 1996, the last sugar cane plantation had closed down.

Today, most of Hawai‘i Island's economy is based on tourism, centered primarily on the leeward (kona) or western coast of the island in the North Kona and South Kohala districts. However, diversified agriculture is a growing sector of the economy of the island. Macadamia nuts, papaya, flowers, tropical and temperate vegetables, and coffee are all important crops. In fact, because of Hawai‘i Island's reputation for growing beautiful orchids, the island has the nickname "The Orchid Isle." Cattle ranching is also important.

3 Important towns and cities

Hilo, with a population of 40,759 as of the 2000 Census, is the largest city on Hawai‘i Island and the second largest city in the state. Hilo is also the county seat for Hawai‘i County. Hilo is where the University of Hawaii, Hilo Campus is located. Kailua-Kona is the second largest city on Hawai‘i Island, and is the gateway to most of the Big Island's hotels.

4 Places of interest

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park; comprising the active volcanoes Kilauea and Mauna Loa
Pu‘uhonua O Honaunau National Historical Park
Onizuka Space Center ; museum dedicated to the memory of Challenger astronaut Ellison Onizuka
Hulihe‘e Palace; royal palace from Hawai‘i's monarchy days in Kailua-Kona
‘Akaka Falls; tallest waterfall on the Island.

5 Sources

MacDonald, G. A., and A. T. Abbott. 1970. Volcanoes in the Sea. Univ. of Hawai‘i Press, Honolulu. 441 pages.

Islands of Hawai‘i
Hawai‘i \| Kaho‘olawe \| Kaua‘i \| Lna‘i \| Maui \| Moloka‘i \| Ni‘ihau \| Northwestern Hawaiian Islands \| O‘ahu
Counties
Hawai‘i \| Honolulu \| Kalawao \| Kaua‘i \| Maui

Islands of Hawaii

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