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Kaʻula Island, also calledKaʻula Rock, is a small, crescent-shaped island in theHawaiian Islands. It is located 22 miles southwest ofNiʻihau.
In the legend ofPapa andWākea, Kaʻula is the seventh-born child.
Kaʻula is located 23 mi (20 nmi; 37 km) west-southwest of Kawaihoa Point onNiʻihau, and about 150 nmi (173 mi; 278 km) west ofHonolulu. The island is the top of a volcanictuff cone that rests on top of a larger, submergedshield volcano. At its highest point, the island reaches a height of 548 ft (167 m).[1] The ocean has carved large sea cliffs on the sides of the island. There is a large cave on the northwest side of the island calledKahalauaola (Shark Cave).[2]
TheUnited States Census Bureau defines Kaʻula asCensus Tract 411 ofKauaʻi County, Hawaiʻi. The2000 census showed that the uninhabited island had a land area of 158.2 acres (0.640 km2; 0.2472 sq mi).[3] Because oferosion, the island is slowly shrinking.
Kaʻula, which he spelled as "Tahoora", was one of the first five islands sighted by CaptainJames Cook in 1778.
Alighthouse was completed on the island in 1932 by theUnited States Lighthouse Service, which became part of theUnited States Coast Guard in 1939. The lighthouse remained in operation through 1947.
The island has been used as abombing range by theUnited States Navy since at least 1952. Inert ordnance is currently used, although live explosive ordnance has been used in the past. There is a risk ofunexploded ordnance on the island. Permission from the U.S. Navy is required to land on the island. In 1978, over the objection of the U.S. Navy, the state of Hawaiʻi claimed ownership of Kaʻula and named the island a State Seabird Sanctuary.[4] A final determination of ownership has not yet been made, and the Navy still uses the southeast point of the island as an aerial bombing and strafingtarget.[5]
Kaʻula is uninhabited, but fishermen andscuba divers frequently visit the island. Five Fathom Pinnacle, 3 mi (2.6 nmi; 4.8 km) west-northwest of Kaʻula, is also a noted dive spot.[6]
Islands, municipalities, and communities ofKauai County, Hawaii,United States | ||
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21°39′17″N160°32′29″W / 21.65472°N 160.54139°W /21.65472; -160.54139
