Northwestern Hawaiian Islands

The Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, also known as the Leeward Hawaiian Islands, are a series of mostly uninhabited islands and atolls located northwest of Kauai and Niʻihau in the Hawaiian island chain. Politically, these islands are part of Honolulu County in the U.S. state of Hawaii, with the exception of Midway Atoll, though they are generally not included on maps and graphic depictions of the State of Hawaii. Midway Atoll is a territory distinct from the State of Hawaii, and is classified as one of the United States Minor Outlying Islands. The United States Census Bureau designates this area, excluding Midway Atoll, as Census Tract 114.98 of Honolulu County. The total land area of these islands is 3.1075 square miles (8.048 km²). With the exception of Nīhoa, all of the islands lie north of the Tropic of Cancer, making them the only islands in Hawaii situated outside the tropics. Almost all of the islands are uninhabited, the main exception being Midway Atoll, which maintains a permanent rotating population of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service staff and other workers. Kure Atoll and Tern Island have a seasonal population of a small team of environmental staff. At least some of the islands were visited by Ancient Hawaiians, with Nīhoa showing evidence of permanent habitation. The Northwestern Hawaiian Islands are part of the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument, a globally significant marine conservation area. They are home to endangered species like the Hawaiian monk seal and green sea turtle and hold cultural importance for Native Hawaiians. Geologically, they are the oldest in the Hawaiian-Emperor seamount chain, shaped by volcanic activity and erosion over millions of years. The Northwestern or Leeward Hawaiian Islands include

Nīhoa (Moku Manu) at 23°03′38″N 161°55′19″W Necker (Mokumanamana) at 23°34′30″N 164°42′01″W French Frigate Shoals (Kānemilohaʻi) (Lalo) at 23°52′12″N 166°17′06″W Gardner Pinnacles (Pūhāhonu) (ʻŌnūnui and/or ʻŌnūiki) at 24°59′57″N 167°59′56″W Maro Reef (Nalukākala) (Koʻanakoʻa) (Kamokuokamohoaliʻi) at 25°26′15″N 170°35′24″W Laysan (Kauō) (Kamole) at 25°46′12″N 171°44′06″W Lisianski (Papaʻāpoho) (Kapou) at 26°03′45″N 173°57′54″W Pearl and Hermes Atoll (Holoikauaua) (Manawai) at 27°47′24″N 175°49′12″W Midway Atoll (Pihemanu) (Kuaihelani) at 28°12′27″N 177°21′00″W – not part of the State of Hawaii Kure Atoll (Mokupāpapa) (Hōlanikū) at 28°23′24″N 178°17′42″W

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