Nihoa Island Archeological District
(U.S. Registered Historic District)
View of Nihoa Island
Nearest city:	Kauai, HI
Added to NRHP:	June 13, 1988
NRHP Reference#:	88000640 [1]
Governing body:	FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE

Devil's Slide

The cliffs of Tanager Peak, looking east from Miller Peak.

Nihoa (also known as Bird Island or Moku Manu) is a small island in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands located 120 miles northwest of the island of Niihau and 280 miles (450 km) northwest of Honolulu. Nihoa is composed of 173.234 acres (701,054 km²) of dry land, surrounded by 140,554 acres (570 km²) of coral reef. Motto: (Out Of Many, One) (traditional) In God We Trust (1956 to date) Anthem: The Star-Spangled Banner Capital Washington D.C. Largest city New York City None at federal level (English de facto) Government Federal constitutional republic  - President George Walker Bush (R)  - Vice President Dick Cheney (R) Independence from... Helvenston House, part of the Ocala Historic District, in Ocala, Florida. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 546 pixelsFull resolution (1736 × 1184 pixel, file size: 1. ... Kauai (Hawaiian IPA pron. ... A typical plaque showing entry on the National Register of Historic Places. ... is the 164th day of the year (165th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1988 (MCMLXXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Friday (link displays 1988 Gregorian calendar). ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 393 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (1164 × 1776 pixel, file size: 1. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 393 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (1164 × 1776 pixel, file size: 1. ... The Hawaiian island chain. ... Niihau, at 69. ... For the city and county of Honolulu, see City & County of Honolulu. ...

Captain William Douglas, the second Western explorer to find Nihoa, describes it as "[bearing] the form of a saddle, high at each end, and low in the middle. To the south, it is covered with verdure; but on the north, west, and east sides it is a barren rock, perpendicularly steep..." (Rauzon 8). Its jagged nature gives the island its name, Nihoa, which means "tooth" in the Hawaiian language. Nihoa is the tallest of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, with two peaks, 895 ft (273 m) Miller's Peak in the west, and 852 ft (260 m) Tanager Peak in the east. The Hawaiian language is an Austronesian language that takes its name from that of the largest island in the tropical North Pacific archipelago where it developed. ...

Geology

Nihoa is 7.2 million years old, and was once a large island before erosion wore it down to its current size. Six valleys slant down from north to south, meeting at the south side of the island: West Valley, West Palm Valley, Miller Valley, Middle Valley, East Palm Valley, and East Valley. Several interesting features occur on Nihoa. Dog's Head Peak (358 ft.) is named for its likeness. Pinnacle Peak (626 ft.) is a volcanic dike created when less resilient rock was eroded away and harder rock was open to the elements. The only flat area on the island is called Albatross Plateau, just below Miller's Peak. The Devil's Slide is a particularly impressive geological feature, a narrow cleft descending 700 feet irrespective of the surrounding elevation. Extending northward from Albatross Plateau, it ends at the vertical cliffs with an 190 feet drop straight down to the ocean below. In this chasm, rare ferns grow, along with several endemic species, including a giant cricket. Severe soil erosion in a wheat field near Washington State University, USA. For erosion as an operation of Mathematical morphology, see Erosion (morphology) Erosion is displacement of solids (soil, mud, rock and other particles) by the agents of ocean currents, wind, water, or ice by downward or down-slope movement... A dike in geology refers to a tabular intrusive igneous body. ... Binomial name D. Otte, 1994 Thaumatogryllus conanti, is a nocturnal species of cricket endemic to the island of Nihoa in Devils Slide, a narrow ravine. ...

Endemism

Nihoa is a sanctuary for endemic species. Covered mostly by coastal scrub vegetation, the endemic Nihoa fan palm, Pritchardia remota, is the only species of tree on the island. There are also two endemic birds: the Nihoa Millerbird and Nihoa Finch. An endemic species of carnation, the Nihoa Carnation is also found in small numbers. Nihoa is also a genus of brushed trapdoor spiders (Barychelidae) with 23 species, with one species the Nihoa trapdoor spider (N. mahina) endemic to Nihoa [1], and another (N. hawaiiensis) endemic to Necker Island. An endangered species of Amaranth, Amaranthus brownii, is found only on Nihoa, and steps are in place to prevent its extinction. This article is about the ecological meaning of endemic. See also endemic (epidemiology). ... Binomial name Becc. ... Trinomial name Acrocephalus familiaris kingi (Wetmore, 1923) The Nihoa Millerbird (Acrocephalus familiaris kingi) is a subspecies of the Millerbird. ... Binomial name Telespiza ultima (Bryan, 1917) The Nihoa Finch (Telespiza ultima) is one of the two endemic bird species of the tiny Hawaiian island Nihoa, the other being the Nihoa Millerbird. ... Binomial name The Nihoa Carnation (Schiedea verticillata) is an endangered species of carnation, endemic to the island of Nihoa in the northwestern Hawaiian Islands, where it was discovered in 1923 by the Tanager Expedition. ... Nihoa is a spider genus. ... See genus (mathematics) for the use of the term in mathematics. ... Diversity 44 genera, 300 species Genera see text The Brushed trapdoor spiders (family Barychelidae) are a spider family with about 300 species in 44 genera. ... This page lists all described species of the spider family Barychelidae as of May 17, 2005. ... Binomial name Churchill & Raven, 1992 The Nihoa trapdoor spider or Nihoa mahina is a trapdoor spider endemic to Nihoa, Hawaii. ... On top of Mokumanamana Necker Island (Hawaiian: Mokumanamana) is a small island in the Pacific Ocean, 13 km (8 miles) north of the Tropic of Cancer, located at . ... Binomial name Amaranthus brownii ? Amaranthus brownii is a member of the Amaranthaceae family. ...

Prehistoric human habitation

Nihoa was well known to the early Hawaiians. Archaeological expeditions found extensive prehistoric agricultural terraces and house sites. ^[2] Because of the island's usage by Native Hawaiians in Ancient Hawaii, the island was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1988. In June of 2006, Nihoa and the other Leeward Islands became part of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands National Monument, the largest national monument in the United States. Slightly smaller than Montana, the Monument is larger than all of the National Parks put together, but the vast majority of its territory is water (or under water), as the total land area of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands is only 8.0485 km² (3.1075 sq mi). Early Polynesians settled in HawaiÊ»i circa A.D. 7th century, having traveled from Tahiti and Marquesas on double-hulled voyaging canoes Ancient HawaiÊ»i refers to the period of Hawaiian history preceding the unification of the Kingdom of HawaiÊ»i by Kamehameha the Great in 1810. ... A typical plaque showing entry on the National Register of Historic Places. ... Year 1988 (MCMLXXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Friday (link displays 1988 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays full 2006 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Marine National Monument is the largest Marine Protected Area in the world and is one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. ... The term national monument can either refer to a specific monument which aims to represent a nation, or to a general concept. ... Official language(s) English Capital Helena Largest city Billings Area  Ranked 4th  - Total 147,165 sq mi (381,156 km²)  - Width 255 miles (410 km)  - Length 630 miles (1,015 km)  - % water 1  - Latitude 44°26N to 49°N  - Longitude 104°2W to 116°2W Population  Ranked... This article is about national parks. ...

Early exploration

The first Westerner to discover Nihoa was Captain James Colnett of the Prince of Wales, on March 21, 1788. As he was later captured by the Spanish and went mad in prison, the discovery was once widely accredited to Captain William Douglas of the Iphigenia, who sighted Nihoa almost a year later.^[3] March 21 is the 80th day of the year (81st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1788 was a leap year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... William Douglas can be one of several people: William Douglas, Duke of Hamilton (1635-1694) William Lewis Douglas who served as governor of Massachusetts from 1905 until 1906 William Orville Douglas who was a jurist and justice This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages...

By the end of the 18th century, Nihoa had been forgotten by most Hawaiians. In 1822, Queen Kaahumanu and her husband King Kaumualii traveled with Captain William Sumner to find Nihoa, as her generation had only known the island through songs and myths.^[2] Later, King Kamehameha IV sailed there to officially annex the island as part of the Kingdom. Finally, in 1885, Princess Liliuokalani made a pilgrimage to Nihoa with her escorts, but their luncheon was cut short when one of the party set off a brush fire by accident. The group tried to flee the island, but the rising tides made it difficult and several boats were flooded, destroying some of the photographs taken.^[4] (17th century - 18th century - 19th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 18th century refers to the century that lasted from 1701 through 1800. ... 1822 (MDCCCXXII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Thursday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar). ... Queen Kaahumanu (born 1777 in Hana, Maui- died June 5, 1832 in the island of Hawaii) was Queen of Hawaii from 1787 (after marriage to King Kamehameha I) and became regent following Kamehamehas death in May 1819 and reigned over Prince Liholiho or Kamehameha II. She was baptized as... Ka‘ahumanu served as Queen Regent of the Kingdom of Hawai‘i during the terms of Kamehameha II and Kamehameha III. Ka‘ahumanu, formally Elizabeth Ka‘ahumanu, (1768-1832), Queen Regent of the Kingdom of Hawai‘i. ... William Graham Sumner (1840-1910), American professor at Yale College for many years where he had a reputation among students as one of the most influential teachers. ... Kamehameha IV, King of Hawaii, born Alexander Liholiho ‘Iolani, reigned as the fourth king of the united Kingdom of Hawai‘i from 11 January 1855 to 30 November 1863. ... 1885 (MDCCCLXXXV) is a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Saturday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... LiliÊ»uokalani, Queen of HawaiÊ»i (September 2, 1838 – November 11, 1917), originally named Lydia KamakaÊ»eha, also known as Lydia KamakaÊ»eha Paki, with the chosen royal name of LiliÊ»uokalani, and later named Lydia K. Dominis, was the last monarch of the Kingdom of HawaiÊ»i. ... Fire in San Bernardino, California Mountains (image taken from the International Space Station) A wildfire, also known as a forest fire, vegetation fire, grass fire, or bushfire (in Australasia), is an uncontrolled fire in wildland often caused by lightning; other common causes are human carelessness and arson. ...

See also

• Tanager Expedition

The 1923 Tanager Expedition, under Captain Samuel Wilder King of the USS Tanager, was a survey of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands and their plant and animal life, as well as their geology. ...

Notes

References

External links

• Nihoa Island (with pictures & a map)
• Nihoa Island
• Quick Facts on Nihoa Island from the PBS Ocean Adventures site
• Amaranthus brownii as an endagered species

Coordinates: 23°03′38″N, 161°55′19″W Map of Earth showing lines of latitude (horizontally) and longitude (vertically), Eckert VI projection; large version (pdf, 1. ...

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Northwestern Islands	French Frigate Shoals | Gardner | Kure | Laysan | Lisianski | Maro Reef | Necker | Nihoa | Pearl and Hermes The Hawaiian island chain. ... Map of French Frigate Shoals The French Frigate Shoals (Hawaiian: Mokupāpapa) is the largest atoll in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. ... The guano-coated Gardner Pinnacles The Gardner Pinnacles (Hawaiian: PÅ«hāhonu) are two barren rock outcrops surrounded by a reef and located 946 km (588 miles) northwest of Honolulu in the Hawaiian Islands at . ... Satellite image of Kure Atoll Kure Atoll or Ocean Island (Hawaiian: Kānemiloha‘i) lies some 55 miles beyond Midway Atoll in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands at . ... Laysan is in the middle of the leeward island chain. ... View of Lisianski Island Lisianski Island (Hawaiian: Papa‘āpoho) is one of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, with a land area of 1. ... Maro Reef (Hawaiian: Nalukakala) is a largely submerged coral atoll located in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. ... On top of Mokumanamana Necker Island (Hawaiian: Mokumanamana) is a small island in the Pacific Ocean, 13 km (8 miles) north of the Tropic of Cancer, located at . ... Landsat Satellite image of the atoll. ...
Communities	Hilo | Honolulu | Kahului | Kāneʻohe | Waipahu | Līhuʻe | Pearl City The following list includes the various geographical populated places in Hawaii Unincorporated Communities The following is the list of unincorporated communities in Hawaii NOTE: Hawaii has NO incorporated places Aiea, Hawaii Aina Haina, Hawaii Alakea, Hawaii Anachoomlu, Hawaii Cape Smith, Hawaii Capehart, Hawaii Captain Cook, Hawaii Ewa, Hawaii Ewa Beach... Hilo (pronounced IPA: ) is a coastal city in the State of HawaiÊ»i, and is the largest community on the island of HawaiÊ»i. ... For the city and county of Honolulu, see City & County of Honolulu. ... Kahului is the largest town on the Hawaiian island of Maui and is located along the north shore of central Maui. ... KāneÊ»ohe is a town and census-designated place (CDP) included in the City & County of Honolulu and located in HawaiÊ»i state District of KoÊ»olaupoko on the Island of OÊ»ahu. ... Waipahu is a former sugar mill town and now census-designated place (CDP) located in the ‘Ewa District on the Island of O‘ahu in the City & County of Honolulu, Hawai‘i. ... A Norwegian Cruise Lines cruise ship docked in Port of Nāwiliwili LÄ«hue (IPA: ) is the second largest town on the Hawaiian Island of Kauai in Hawaii. ... Pearl City is town and a census-designated place (CDP) located in the ‘Ewa District and City & County of Honolulu on the Island of Oahu. ...
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