Kawaikini
Extinct shield volcano and highest peak on the island of Kaua'i
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Kawaikini is a shield volcano on the Hawaiian Island of Kauaʻi and in Kauaʻi County and measures 5,243 feet (1,598 m) in elevation.[2] It is the summit of the island's inactive central shield volcano, Mount Waialeale.[3] Other peaks on Kauaʻi include: Waiʻaleʻale (5,148 feet), Nāmolokama Mountain (4,421 feet), Kalalau Lookout (4,120 feet), Keanapuka Mountain (4,120 feet), Haupu (2,297 feet) and Nounou (1,241 feet).[4]
- US most prominent peak 110th
Ribu
| Kawaikini | |
|---|---|
| Mount Waiʻaleʻale | |
| |
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 5,243 ft (1,598 m)[1] |
| Prominence | 5,243 ft (1,598 m)[1] |
| Listing |
|
| Coordinates | 22°03′24″N 159°29′48″W[2] |
| Geography | |
  Kawaikini Location in the Hawaiian Islands | |
| Location | Kauaʻi County, Hawaii, United States |
| Parent range | Hawaiian Islands |
| Geology | |
| Mountain type | |
| Volcanic zone | Hawaiian–Emperor seamount chain |
| Climbing | |
| First ascent | Ancient Hawaiians (Unknown Time) |
| Easiest route | Mountaineering Trek |
Description
A rain gauge placed on the nearby Waialeale lake records daily rainfall[5] and regularly lands Kauaʻi's peaks on the National Climatic Data Center's list of places averaging the highest annual rainfall.[6] This high rainfall makes reaching the summit difficult on most days.
The rain is not the only barrier to reaching Kawaikini. The Alakai Wilderness Preserve is located to the west and its miles of dense, swampy forest limit access to the summit. To the north, east, and south, Kawaikini is protected by steep, wet cliffs.[7]
Etymology
Ka wai kini literally translates to "the multitudinous water" in the Hawaiian language, referring to the island's high rainfall.[8]
