Fun Facts About Kauai

Geography

The Hawaiian Archipelago is part of Polynesia.

In 1756, Charles De Brosses named all the many scattered islands in the Pacific Ocean Polynesia, meaning “many islands.” In 1831 Dumont d’Urville proposed to restrict the term Polynesia to the islands in the Pacific describing a triangle, as we know it today, with Hawaii at its northern tip, (Kauai at 22°05’N,159°30’W) the Easter Islands at the southeastern corner and New Zealand creating the southwestern corner.

Among the eight main Hawaiian Islands, Kauai is the oldest one and the fourth largest island, spanning 552 sq mi (or 1,430 km2). The highest mountain on Kauai is mount Kawaikini, being 5,343 ft (1,598 m) above sea level. The second highest point on Kauai is mount Wai’ale’ale, at 5,148 ft (or 1,570 m) above sea level. The rainfall at the eastern side of mount Wai’ale’ale averages to about 460 inches (11,700 ml) per year, making it the wettest area on earth. The heavy rainfalls over time have caused the scenic beauty of the NaPali Range, with its deeply carved out valleys and craters, the lush green tropical foliage, the thick vegetation in the jungle and the abundance of waterfalls visible from the north shore of the island.

History

Historians believe that the first settlers arrived from the Marquesas Islands between the 5th and 7th century. The first Tahitian settlers probably arrived around AD 1000.

For centuries, western explorers missed the Hawaiian islands, since they were mainly entering the Pacific from the southern tips of Africa or South America, exploring mainly the southern hemisphere. By chance, in January of 1778, the British explorer Captain Cook discovered the islands of Oahu, Kauai and Niihau, while coming from Tahiti in search of a north-west passage to the Atlantic Ocean. Cooks first and second trip to Hawaii in January 1779 was successful for him, since both visits coincided with the Makahiki Festival on the islands. Enjoying the Polynesian hospitality during the festival allowed him to trade, restock goods and move on in peace twice. Cook lost his life on his third visit to Hawaii in February of 1779, when his visit did not coincide with the Makahiki Festival and his visit was not welcome. His crew was able to escape and return to Britain with charts, maps and drawings of the islands. From there on adventurers and explorers, as now tourists, where drawn to the islands, among them the legendary William Bligh, captain of the Bounty.