Northwestern Hawaiian Islands

The Northwestern Hawaiian Islands or the Leeward Islands are the small islands and atolls in the Hawaiian island chain located northwest (in some cases, far to the northwest) of the islands of Kauai and Niihau. They are part of the U.S. state of Hawaii except Midway Atoll, which is an unorganized, unincorporated United States territory with temporary residential facilities and is administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. In the state of Hawaii, they are part of the City & County of Honolulu. The United States Census Bureau defines this area as Census Tract 114.98 of Honolulu County. Its total land area is 3.1075 square miles (8.048 km2).

The Northwestern or Leeward Hawaiian Islands include:

  • Nihoa (Moku Manu) at 23°03′38″N 161°55′19″W / 23.06056°N 161.92194°W / 23.06056; -161.92194 (Nihoa)
  • Necker (Mokumanamana) at 23°34′N 164°42′W / 23.567°N 164.7°W / 23.567; -164.7 (Necker Island)
  • French Frigate Shoals (Kānemilohaʻi) at 23°52.134′N 166°17.16′W / 23.8689°N 166.286°W / 23.8689; -166.286 (French Frigate Shoals)
  • Gardner Pinnacles (Pūhāhonu) at 25°01′N 167°59′W / 25.017°N 167.983°W / 25.017; -167.983
  • Maro Reef (Nalukākala) at 25°24′54″N 170°35′24″W / 25.415°N 170.590°W / 25.415; -170.590
  • Laysan (Kauō) at 25°46′03″N 171°44′00″W / 25.7675°N 171.7334°W / 25.7675; -171.7334
  • Lisianski (Papaāpoho) at 26°03′51″N 173°57′57″W / 26.064031°N 173.965802°W / 26.064031; -173.965802
  • Pearl and Hermes Atoll (Holoikauaua) at 27°55′40″N 175°44′17″W / 27.927687°N 175.737991°W / 27.927687; -175.737991
  • Midway (Pihemanu) at 28°12′N 177°21′W / 28.2°N 177.35°W / 28.2; -177.35] - not part of the State of Hawaii
  • Kure (Mokupāpapa) at 28°25′N 178°20′W / 28.417°N 178.333°W / 28.417; -178.333 (Kure Atoll)

Read more about Northwestern Hawaiian Islands:  The Islands, Geology, Biodiversity and Endemism, Exploration, National Monument

Famous quotes containing the word islands:

    Consider the islands bearing the names of all the saints, bristling with forts like chestnut-burs, or Echinidæ, yet the police will not let a couple of Irishmen have a private sparring- match on one of them, as it is a government monopoly; all the great seaports are in a boxing attitude, and you must sail prudently between two tiers of stony knuckles before you come to feel the warmth of their breasts.
    Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)