GEOLOGY AND TOPOGRAPHY OF 1 1. \ WAIT. 101 



from which to study, in some ddnil. Ilic iiuiiu Licoornpliic. topographic and 

 geologic features of the group. 



NlIHAU. 



To the udi'tliwest of Honolulu lie the islands of Niiluiu and Kniiai. Th-' 

 former, the farther removed of the two, is in a iioii li\vcs1ci-ly dii-cclion 

 from Honolulu and is in line with the islaiuls niciitioncd in atiolhcr cha])ter as 

 forming the leeward chain. It is seventeen miles west of Kauai from w hidi it is 

 separated by a very deep ocean channel. It is about eighteen iiiih-s loni; by 

 eight miles in width, at the widest part, and has an area of ninety-seven square 

 miles. The highest portion attains an elevation of about l'-U)() feet above sea 

 level. 



The island consists of a high central section called Kaeo, surrt)unded by a 

 plain on three sides. On the north and west sides it is the highest and it is here 

 that steep cliffs occur where the high land joins the summit flat. The higher 

 part is irregular and of a basaltic origin, but is without the sharp peaks that 

 characterize some of the larger islands. A large, natural i)()iid near the center 

 of the island and several smaller ponds and artificial reservoirs are found in 

 various sections. 



While Niihau shows evidence of great erosion it is evident that its niodei-ate 

 height and small size has prevented it receiving the abundant rainfall which 

 has been an important factor in aging its larger companions. 



A large part of the island is low, apparenth^ of coral or leolian origin, 

 and is the inhabited section. The island is noAV utilized as a great sheep ranch, 

 there being extensive areas of grass land, especially suited to grazinii. Per- 

 haps 150 natives, mostly comparatively new arrivals, now iidialtit the ishind, 

 and together with the old inhabitants, all told, are but a renuiant of the 

 thousand sturdy Hawaiians who made it their home less than seventy years 

 ago. The island is noted in the gi'oup as the one on which is found the famous 

 sedge from which the natives vreave their serviceable soft grass mats, althouizh 

 the same plant occurs in suitable localities on all of the islands. The beaches 

 are strewn with beautiful, though small, sea shells, known as Xiihau shells. i 

 which are strung into long necklaces called Niihau leis. 



Near Niihau are two cinder cones, Kaula on llie west and Lchua on tli ' 

 northeast, which form small detached islands. Prof. llitchcocU says, '"The hrst 

 is about the size and shape of Punchbowl, cul in two and the lower half destroyeil 

 by the waves. The concentric structure of Ihe yellow cinders, nnich lik'e the 

 lower surface of Koko Head, is wvy ob\ioiis Lehiia a|i|)eai's lo he a similar 

 renuiant, less eroded, as it has maintained aliont 20(1 di'grees of its cir- 

 cumference instead of the 14(1 (lei:i-ees of Kan.la. Both these crater cones have 

 the western or leeward side the hiuhest. l)ecause the ti'ade winds drive the 

 falling rain of ashes and lapilli in the direction of the aii- movement, building 

 up a compact lamiujded i)ile of material to leewai-d. The subseipient ei-osion 



^ Coluiiihi-Un rririiiiin. 



