COMMERCIAL FISHERIES OF THE HAWAIIAN ISLANDS. 385 
side are the small bays of Kailua and Kealakeuka, which are safe so 
long as the winds prevail from the west, which they do most of the 
year. On the northwest is Kawaihae Bay. Arable land is scattered 
over a good part of the island, though the frequent volcanic eruptions 
destroy considerable quantities of good soil by their lava flows. 
Kahoolawe.—Vhis island, 6 miles west of Maui, has an area of 65 
square miles and is deyoted to sheep-raising. Its highest point is 
1,130 feet above the sea. 
Kauai.—Vhis island is the northernmost of the group, and, accord- 
ing to geologists, is the oldest. It is 63 miles from Oahu, the nearest 
large island. It has a length of 25 miles, with a breadth of 22 miles, 
and an area of 590 square miles. In the center is the basaltic moun- 
tain called Waialeale, 5,000 feet high. Its northern portion extends 
nearly to the ocean in Jofty ranges, while its southern end slopes 
gradually to the sea. The northwestern portion of the island has a 
line of lofty cliffs 7 miles long. The soil is very fertile, as the lava 
has nearly all decomposed. It is supplied with numerous streams and 
rascades and has some superb valleys. It has well been named by 
the inhabitants the ‘*Garden Isle.” There are several small bays 
around the island, but none of them is safe in bad weather. 
Lanai.—This is a small island, about 9 miles west of Maui, and is 
used mainly for sheep-raising. It is 21 miles long and 8 in breadth, 
and has an area of 150 square miles. At the southeast end there is a 
mountain 3,000 feet high. 
Maui.—This island, lying 25 miles northwest from Hawaii, is the 
second in size, with a length of 46 and a breadth of 30 miles, and an 
area of 760 square miles. It is composed of two mountains, connected 
by a sandy isthmus 7 or 8 miles long by 6 miles across, and so low that 
the depression of a few feet would make Maui into two islands. Hal- 
eakala, the mountain to the northwest, has a height of 10,032 feet, and 
the volcanic crater at its summit is the largest inactive one in the world. 
Eaka, the mountain at the southeast of Maui, is 5,820 feet high. 
Molokai.—Vhis is a long, narrow island, 40 miles in length and 9 
miles wide, with an area of 270 square miles. The western half is an 
elevated plain 1,000 feet above the sea, without running streams, but 
covered with grass. At the eastern end are several deep valleys, with 
streams of water during the wet season. The northern coast is gen- 
erally precipitous, but near the center is a tongue of land about a 
mile broad and 10 miles long, projecting into the ocean. In 1865 this 
was selected as the site for the leper settlement. It is especially well 
located for this purpose, as behind the point of land is an almost 
impassable cliff over 1,000 feet high. There are about 6,000 acres in 
the tract, most of it fertile soil. The Government provides quarters, 
clothing, and provisions. By law every leper is sent to this place, 
and none is permitted his freedom. There are two settlements on this 
point, Kalaupapa and Katawa. 
F. ©. 1901——25 
