Molokai
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Molokaʻi | |
|---|---|
| The Friendly Isle | |
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| Population | 7,404 (2000 census) |
| Area | 260.02 mile² (673.44 km²). |
| Rank | 5th Largest Hawaiian Island |
| Highest Point | Kamakou, 4,970 feet (1,515 m) |
| Flower | Kukui |
| Color | Omaʻomaʻo (Green) |
Molokaʻi (also Molokai) is the fifth largest island of the Hawaiian archipelago. The island is 38 by 10 miles (61 by 16 km), with a land area of 260.02 sq mi (673.44 km²). It lies east of Oʻahu across the 25 mile (40 km) wide, Kaiwi Channel and north of Lānaʻi, separated from it by the Kalohi Channel. The lights of Honolulu are visible at night from the west end of Molokaʻi, while nearby Lānaʻi and Maui are clearly visible from anywhere along the south shore of the Island.
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[edit] Geography
Molokaʻi is built from two distinct volcanoes known as East Molokaʻi and the much smaller West Molokaʻi. The highest point is Kamakou on East Molokaʻi, at 4,970 feet (1,515 m). East Molokaʻi volcano, like Koʻolau on Oʻahu is today only what remains standing of the southern half of the original mountain. The northern half suffered a catastrophic collapse and now lies as a debris field scattered northward across the Pacific Ocean bottom while what remains on the island are the highest sea cliffs in the world. Views of these sea cliffs are presented in the movie, Jurassic Park III. The south shore of Molokaʻi boasts the longest fringing reef of the US and its holdings — nearly 40 km long.
Molokaʻi is part of the State of Hawaiʻi and located in Maui County, except for the Kalaupapa Peninsula, which is separately administered as Kalawao County. Maui County encompasses Maui, Lānaʻi, and Kahoʻolawe in addition to Molokaʻi. The only town of any size on the island is Kaunakakai, which is one of two small ports on the island. The main street of downtown Kaunakakai is roughly two blocks long. The airport is located on West Molokaʻi. The United States Census Bureau divides the island into three census tracts: Census Tract 317 and Census Tract 318 of Maui County, Hawaii, and Census Tract 319 of Kalawao County, Hawaii. The total 2000 census population of these was 7,404, living on a land area of 673.44 km² (260.02 sq mi). [1]
Molokaʻi is separated from Oʻahu on the west by the Kaiwi Channel, from Maui on the southeast by the Pailolo channel, and from Lanaʻi on the south by the Kalohi Channel.
[edit] Culture
Molokaʻi is known as the "Friendly Isle" and is one of the least developed of the main Hawaiian islands.
The island's population is diverse, with a high percentage of people of Hawaiian ancestry. Molokaʻi is noted for the numerous Hawaiian fish ponds along its south shore. Some of these have been restored in recent years. Molokaʻi is also the oldest site for sufferers of leprosy in the United States (the leper colony at Kalaupapa), which became widely known through the work of Father Damien.
There are several small hotels in Kaunakakai and a resort located on the west end. Pāpōhaku Beach on the western-facing shore is one of the largest and most spectacular beaches in the Hawaiian Islands.
The population of Molokaʻi today ranges between 6,000 to 8,000 depending on the season. In the winter, the population balloons with snowbirds from all over the world.
[edit] External links
- Official Visitors Association website
- The Molokai Dispatch, local Molokaʻi print and electronic newspaper, http://www.themolokaidispatch.com
- Molokaʻi's Daily Newspaper
- Maʻa Hawaii, adventure tours operator with information about Molokaʻi's trails and North Shore
[edit] References
- ^ Census Tracts 317 and 318, Maui County; and Census Tract 319, Kalawao County United States Census Bureau
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| Topics |
Geography | Government | History | Politics | People |
| Capital | Honolulu |
| Islands |
Hawaiʻi | Kahoʻolawe | Kauaʻi | Lānaʻi | Maui | Molokaʻi | Niʻihau | Northwestern Hawaiʻian Islands | Oʻahu |
| Communities | |
| Counties |
