Hawaiian Islands

A chain of volcanic and coral islands in the central Pacific Ocean extending about 2,600 km (1,600 mi) west-northwestward from the island of Hawaii. Formerly known as the Sandwich Islands, the group consists of eight major islands and more than a hundred minor ones.

Hawai′ian Is′lands

n.pl. a group of islands in the N Pacific; 2090 mi. (3370 km) SW of San Francisco: includes the islands of Hawaii, Maui, Oahu, Kauai, Molokai, Lanai, Niihau, Kahoolawe, and other islands and islets. Formerly, Sandwich Islands.

Thesaurus

Noun

Hawaiian Islands - a group of volcanic and coral islands in the central PacificSandwich IslandsPolynesia - the islands in the eastern part of OceaniaAloha State, Hawaii, Hawai'i, HI - a state in the United States in the central Pacific on the Hawaiian IslandsHawaii Island, Hawaii - the largest and southernmost of the Hawaii islands; has several volcanic peaksKahoolawe, Kahoolawe Island - an island of south-central HawaiiKauai, Kauai Island - an island of Hawaii to the northwest of OahuLanai, Lanai Island - an island of central Hawaii; a pineapple-growing areaMaui, Maui Island - the second largest of the Hawaiian IslandsMolokai, Molokai Island - an island of central Hawaii (between Maui and Oahu)Nihau, Nihau Island - the most northwestern Hawaiian island (beyond Kauai)Oahu, Oahu Island - an island of central Hawaii (between Molokai and Kauai); the chief island of the stateMidway Islands - an atoll in the Hawaiian Islands some 1300 miles to the northwest of Honolulu; site of an important United States naval base

Hawaiian Islands

(also known as the Sandwich Islands), an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean (18°50′-28°15′ N lat., 154°40′-178°15′ E long.). The largest archipelago in Polynesia; it consists of 24 islands extending more than 3,600 km from west northwest to east southeast. The major islands are Hawaii, Maui, Molokai, Oahu, Kauai, Niihau, Lanai, and Kahoolawe, all of which are mountainous; the other islands are small and low-lying. There are atolls in the northwest. The Hawaiian Islands are located over an underwater mountain range and are the highest active volcanoes on earth. The extinct volcano Mauna Kea (4,205 m) is the highest point on the islands. There is still volcanic activity on the island of Hawaii.

The climate of the Hawaiian Islands is maritime tropical. Average monthly temperatures range from 18° C in February to 25° C in August, and there is snow on the high mountain peaks in winter. The northeast trade winds bring precipitation that falls primarily on the windward slopes of the mountains. The annual precipitation on the high mountainous islands is from 3,500-4,000 mm to 12,500 mm (on Kauai, one of the wettest areas in the world). Surface drainage is poor because the precipitation is absorbed by the lava; there is a river network only on the largest islands.

The flora and fauna of the islands are distinguished by their high endemism and the unusualness of the species composition. About 90 percent of the plant species are endemic. Tropical rain forest covers the windward slopes from elevations of 600-700 m to 1,600-1,700 m. Low-growing mountain forest continues up to 3,000 m, and shrubs and ferns cover higher elevations. There are savannas and sparse growths of trees on the dry southwestern slopes. Sugarcane, pineapple, banana, and other tropical crop plantations occupy the coastal lowlands and the lower mountain slopes. The timber-line has been lowered as a result of the clearing of the forests for coffee plantations. The fauna belongs to the Hawaiian subregion of the Australian zoogeographic region.

L. A. MIKHAILOVA

Hawaiian Islands

noun

Synonyms for Hawaiian Islands

noun a group of volcanic and coral islands in the central Pacific

Synonyms

Sandwich Islands

Related Words

Polynesia
Aloha State
Hawaii
Hawai'i
HI
Hawaii Island
Kahoolawe
Kahoolawe Island
Kauai
Kauai Island
Lanai
Lanai Island
Maui
Maui Island
Molokai
Molokai Island
Nihau
Nihau Island
Oahu
Oahu Island
Midway Islands