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About Kauai, Hawaii
- Nickname: The Garden Isle
- Population: 54,200+
- Area: 1,446 km²
- Rank: 4th largest of the Hawaiian Islands
- Highest Point: Kawaikini 1,598 m
- Island flower: Mokihana
Kauai is the oldest and the fourth largest of the main
Hawaiian Islands Archipelago. With an annual average
rainfall of 480 inches a year, Kauai is also known to
be one of the wettest spots on Earth besides its world
class beaches. |
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Kauai History
During the late 1700s, King Kamehameha was at the peak of
his power. And in his quest to unite the Hawaiian Islands
under one kingdom, he failed twice in his quest to conquer
Kauai due to a bad storm in the first attempt and epidemic
in the other. Kauai ruler, Kaumualii has been resisting King
Kamehameha for years but however, Kaumualii decided to join
the kingdom without bloodshed after repeated warnings from
Kamehameha, and remain as ruler of Kauai while pledging allegiance
to Kamehameha. This allowed King Kamehameha in 1810 to unite
all the Hawaiian Islands in one kingdom.
The Great English explorer, Captain James Cook, landed two
large ships on the west coast of the island in Waimea Bay
in 1778. Upon his return in the following year, he was killed
during an affray with a number of Hawaiians at Kealakekua
Bay on February 14, 1779. Some historians now believe that
Captain James Cook was not the first European to discover
these islands. It is thought that the Spanish navigator, Gaetan
discovered the island by accident while on his way to Mexico
in 1542.
Some interesting facts:
- Jurassic Park was filmed in Waimea Canyon, Kauai in the
year 1993.
- Lilo & Stitch, the Disney's 2002 animated film featured
Kauai Island.
- U.S. Navy's Pacific Missile Range Facility is situated
at Kauai.
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