| Hawaiʻi | |
|---|---|
| The Big Island | |
Landsat mosaic, 1999–2001. |
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Location in the state of Hawaii. |
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| Geography | |
| Area | 4,028.0 sq mi (10,432 km2) |
| Rank | 1st, largest Hawaiian Island |
| Highest point | Mauna Kea |
| Max elevation | 13,796 ft. (4,205 m) |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 148,677 (as of 2000) |
| Density | 37/sq mi (14/km²) |
| Official Insignia | |
| Flower | ʻŌhiʻa lehua |
| Color | ʻUlaʻula (red) |
The Island of Hawaii,[1] also called the Big Island or Hawaiʻi Island ( /həˈwaɪ.i/ or /həˈwɑːiː/; Hawaiian: [həˈwɐiʔi] or [həˈvɐiʔi]), is a volcanic island (the eastern-most and southern-most in the Hawaiian islands chain) in the North Pacific Ocean. With an area of 4,028 square miles (10,430 km2), it is larger than all of the other Hawaiian Islands combined and is the largest island in the United States. The Island of Hawaiʻi is administered as the County of Hawaiʻi within the state of Hawaii. The county seat is Hilo. In modern times, Hawaiʻi is known as the "Big Island" to reduce confusion between Hawaiʻi Island and the state.
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Hawaiʻi is said to have been named for Hawaiʻiloa, the legendary Polynesian navigator who first discovered it. Other accounts attribute the name to the legendary realm of Hawaiki, a place from which the Polynesians originated (see also Manua), the place where they go in the afterlife, the realm of the gods and goddesses. Captain James Cook, who called them the "Sandwich Islands", was killed on the Big Island at Kealakekua Bay. Hawaiʻi was the home island of Paiʻea Kamehameha, called Kamehameha the Great, who by 1795 united most of the Hawaiian Islands under his rule after several years of war. He gave his Kingdom of Hawaii the name of his native island, and the islands in chain are known collectively as "Hawaiian Islands".
In greatest dimension, the island is 93 miles (150 km) across and has a land area of 4,028 square miles (10,430 km2)[2] comprising 62% of the Hawaiian Islands' land area. Measured from its sea floor base to its peak, Mauna Kea is the world's tallest mountain, taller than Mount Everest.[3]
The Island of Hawaiʻi is built from five separate shield volcanoes that erupted somewhat sequentially, one overlapping the other. These are (from oldest to youngest):
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.[4] Geologists now consider these "outcrops" to be part of the earlier building of Mauna Loa. Another volcano which already disappeared below the surface of the ocean is Māhukona.
Because Mauna Loa and Kīlauea are active volcanoes, the island of Hawaiʻi is still growing. Between January 1983 and September 2002, lava flows added 543 acres (220 ha) to the island. Lava flowing from Kīlauea has destroyed several towns, including Kapoho in 1960, and Kalapana and Kaimū in 1990. In 1987 lava filled in Queen's Bath, a large, L-shaped, freshwater pool in the Kalapana area.
The southernmost point in the United States, Ka Lae, is on Hawaiʻi. The nearest landfall to the south would be in the Line Islands. To the north is the island of Maui, whose Haleakalā volcano is visible from Hawaiʻi across the Alenuihāhā Channel.
Approximately 35 km (22 mi) southeast of Hawaiʻi lies the undersea volcano known as Lōʻihi. Lōʻihi is an erupting seamount that reaches 3,200 feet (980 m) below the ocean surface. Continued activity from Lōʻihi will likely cause it to breach the surface of the ocean 10,000–100,000 years from now.
The Great Crack is an 8-mile (13 km) long, 60 feet (18 m) wide and 60 feet (18 m) deep fissure in the island, in the district of Kaʻū. According to the United States Geological Survey, The Great Crack is the result of crustal dilation from magmatic intrusions into the southwest rift zone of Kilauea.[5] While neither substantial earthquakes 1868 and 1975 caused a measurable change in The Great Crack, lava welled out of the lower 10 kilometers (6.2 mi) of the Great Crack in 1823.[5]
One can find trails, rock walls, and archaeological sites from as old as the 12th century around the Great Crack. Approximately 1,951 acres (7.90 km2) of private land were purchased during the Presidency of Bill Clinton, specifically to protect various artifacts in this area as well as the habitat of local wildlife.
The Hilina Slump is a 4,760 cubic miles (19,800 km3) chunk of the south slope of the Kīlauea volcano which is slipping away from the island. Between 1990 and 1993, Global Positioning System measurements showed a southward displacement up to approximately 10 centimeters per year.[6] Undersea measurements show that a "bench" has formed a buttress and that this buttress may tend to reduce the likelihood of future catastrophic detachment.[7][8]
On April 2, 1868, an earthquake with a magnitude estimated between 7.25 and 7.75 on the Richter scale rocked the southeast coast of Hawaiʻi. It triggered a landslide on Mauna Loa, five miles (8 km) north of Pahala, killing 31 people. A tsunami claimed 46 additional lives. The villages of Punaluʻu, Nīnole, Kawaʻa, Honuʻapo, and Keauhou Landing were severely damaged. The tsunami was reported to roll over the tops of the coconut trees, up to 60 feet (18 m) high, and reach inland a distance of a quarter of a mile in some places.[9]
On November 29, 1975, a 37-mile (60 km) wide section of the Hilina Slump dropped 11.5 feet (3.5 m) and slid 26 feet (7.9 m) toward the ocean. This movement caused a 7.2 magnitude earthquake and a 48 feet (10 m) high tsunami. Oceanfront properties were washed off their foundations in Punaluʻu. Two deaths were reported at Halapē, and 19 others were injured.
The island suffered tsunami damage from earthquakes in Chile in 1946 and Alaska on 27 March 1964. Downtown Hilo was severely damaged in both, with many lives lost. Just north of Hilo, Laupāhoehoe lost 16 school children and 5 teachers in the 1946 tsunami.
In March 2011 a 9.0 magnitude earthquake off the east coast of Japan again created a tsunami that caused significant damage in Hawaii. The estimated damage to public infrastructure alone was $3 million.[10]
As of 2008[update], the island had a resident population of 175,784.[11] As of 2000[update],[12] there were 148,677 people, 52,985 households, and 36,877 families residing in the county. The population density was 14/km² (37/mi²). There were 62,674 housing units at an average density of 6/km² (16/mi²). The racial makeup of the county was 31.55% White, 0.47% African American, 0.45% Kanaka Maoli, 26.70% Asian, 11.25% Pacific Islander, 1.14% from other races, and 28.44% from two or more races. 9.49% of the population were Hispanics or Latinos of any race.
There were 52,985 households out of which 32.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.60% were married couples living together, 13.20% had a woman whose husband did not live with her, and 30.40% were non-families. 23.10% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.75 and the average family size was 3.24.
The age distribution was 26.10% under 18, 8.20% from 18 to 24, 26.20% from 25 to 44, 26.00% from 45 to 64, and 13.50% who were 65 or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 100 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98 males.
Sugarcane was the backbone of Hawaiʻi Island's economy for more than a century (see Sugar plantations in Hawaii). In the mid-twentieth century, sugar plantations began to downsize and in 1996, the last plantation closed.
Most of Hawaiʻi Island's economy is based on tourism (see Tourism in Hawaii), centered primarily in resort areas on the western coast of the island in the North Kona and South Kohala districts. More recently, Hawaiʻi Island has become a focus for sustainable tourism.
Diversified agriculture is a growing sector of the economy. Major crops include Macadamia nuts, papaya, flowers, tropical and temperate vegetables, and coffee beans. Only coffee grown in the Kona District of this island may be branded Kona coffee. The island's orchid agriculture is the largest in the state, and resulted in the unofficial nickname "The Orchid Isle." The island is home to one of the United States' largest cattle ranches: Parker Ranch, on 175,000 acres (708 km2) in Waimea. Hawaiʻi is also known for Astronomy, and numerous telescopes are operated on the summit of Mauna Kea, where atmospheric clarity is excellent and there is little light pollution.
The island was traditionally divided into districts called moku. The names of the districts are (counter-clockwise, from the southeast): Puna, Hilo, Hāmākua, Kohala, Kona, and Kaʻū. The county government subdivides some of these to form elective districts of the county council. There are no incorporated municipalities on the island. Some of the named towns include:
Two roads connect the two major cities, Hilo on the east coast and Kailua-Kona on the west coast of the island:[13]
There are also State highways 270 (Kawaihae - Hawi) and 180 (the "Kona coffee road", from Honalo to State highway 190), Saddle Road (Hilo to Waimea, passing between Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea), South Point Road (Highway 11 to South Point), etc.
Rental car offices are at the international airports. Taxi service is also available. Island-wide zero-fare public transport is provided by the "Hele-On Bus".[14]
Two commercial airports serve Hawaiʻi Island:
There is also:
Major commercial ports are Hilo on the East side and Kawaihae on the West side of the island. Cruise ships often stop at Kailua-Kona.
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