The Avifauna of Niihau Island, Hawaiian Archipelago

Abstract

Niihau Island lies about 150 miles northwest of Honolulu and is about 25 miles west by south of the island of Kauai. It is approximately 17 miles long, and its greatest width is five miles. The highest elevation is 1281 feet, at Paniau, on the northeast coast. The southern and northern ends and the western side of this volcanic island (fig. 1) are low, with sand and lava beds sloping gently to the sea. The east-central part of the island, from Halalii Lake on the south to Puu Alala on the north, is made up of rugged lava mountains rising toward the east where 1000-foot cliffs drop to the water's edge. In this mountainous portion is a rolling plateau (800 to 1100 feet) between Mount Kaeo and Pueo Point which extends north to Paniau; this plateau is formed of the heads of the numerous canyons that cut eastward through the cliffs to the sea and by the basins of the Kaumuhonu, Puniopo and Kahunalii valleys extending westward. In the lowlands are intermittent lakes. Halutu and Halalii lakes to the south were nearly dry when we visited the island. Apana Reservoir was broken and dry. The only surface water present was in Halutu Lake, in the small ponds north of Kiekie and southwest of Puuwai, and in the numerous sumps dug in tidal waters to supply brackish water for the livestock. Only cistern water is available for household use. At times, this supply must be augmented by using coconut milk and cactus pears (panini). The large acreages of cactus (Opuntia) established on the island by the Robinson family also are a major source of water for cattle. The above statements indicate that the island is extremely dry; it probably has an annual rainfall of less than 15 inches. Although the