146 PKOCEEDINGS OF THE AMEEICAN ACADEMY 



The group comprises thirteen islands, only seven of which, how- 

 ever, are of any considerable size. These extend in a curved line 

 from E. S. E. to W. N. W., about 600 miles in length. Their super- 

 ficial area is about 6,500 square miles ; the largest island, which is 

 also the most easterly one, Hawaii, being about 100 miles long, by 

 80 or 90 miles wide, of an irregular oval shape. It also presents 

 the highest mountains of the group, as well as of the Pacific, — Mauna 

 Kea being 13,980 feet, and Mauna Loa, 13,760 feet; Hualalai some- 

 what exceeds 8,000 feet. 



The next island to the west, Maui, is the next in size also. It con- 

 sists in fact of two islands, joined by a low sandy isthmus, so low that 

 more than one vessel has been wrecked by attempting to pass between 

 them, mistaking the gap for the Molokai Passage, next westward. 

 The eastern end of Maui is composed of the mountain Haleakala, 

 somewhat exceeding 10,000 feet in height. West Maui is about 6,500 

 feet high ; its mountain is known as Eeka ; several of its highest por- 

 tions also bear distinctive appellations. 



Molohai lies next to the westward, but is the fifth in size. The 

 highest point is near the eastern end, and perhaps reaches 3,500 feet. 



Lanai lies a few miles S. S. W. from West Maui, and is the sixth 

 in size. It probably does not exceed 2,500 feet m height. 



Oahu, west of Molokai, is the fourth in size. Its mountains are two 

 somewhat parallel ridges of unequal length, lying nearly east and west, 

 the northern one twice the length of the southern. The northern 

 ridge is partly divided by Nuuanu Valley, the mountains to the east 

 taking the name of their highest peak, Konahuanui; those to the west, 

 the name of Waiolani, the highest peak on that side. Each of these 

 peaks probably a little exceeds 4,000 feet. The farther western end 

 of this range (sometimes called the Waialua Mountains) spreads out to 

 a very considerable breadth, and is extremely difficult of access, so 

 much so that it is probable no white man has ever been to the heart of 

 the region. The southern ridge is known as the Kaala Mountains. 



Kauai, the island next west, is the third in size, consisting in great 

 part of a central mountain, 6,500 or 7,000 feet high, with an extensive 

 plateau on its leeward flank, at the height of from 3,000 to 4,000 feet. 



Niihau, the most westerly island (excepting a few mere rocks) lies 

 to the S. W. of Kauai, is the seventh as regards size, is in no part 

 above 2,500 feet, and is destitute of forests. 



Returning again to Hawaii, where on the whole the climatic condi- 



