View source for Kaʻula

{{short description|Islet in Kauai County, Hawaii}}
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[[File:Kaula-island-P1010936a.JPG|thumb|upright=1.3|Ka{{okina}}ula Island viewed from the north on {{nowrap|May 8, 2008.}}]]
'''Kaʻula Island''', also called '''Kaʻula Rock''', is a small, crescent-shaped island in the [[Hawaiian Islands]].
==Mythology==
In the legend of [[Papahānaumoku|Papa]] and [[Wākea]], Ka{{okina}}ula is the seventh-born child.
==Geography==
It is located {{convert|23|mi|nmi km|0|abbr=on}} west-southwest of Kawaihoa Point on [[Niihau|Ni{{okina}}ihau]], and about {{convert|150|nmi|mi km|0|abbr=on}} west of [[Honolulu]]. The island is the top of a volcanic [[tuff cone]] that rests on top of a larger, submerged [[shield volcano]]. At its highest point, the island reaches a height of {{convert|548|ft|m|0|abbr=on}}.<ref>[http://www.volcanolive.com/kaula.html Kaula Volcano] John Seach, Volcano Live</ref>  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 called [[Kahalauaola]] (Shark Cave).<ref>[http://atsea.nmfs.hawaii.edu/islands/kaula.htm Ka{{okina}}ula Island] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040905073315/http://atsea.nmfs.hawaii.edu/islands/kaula.htm |date=2004-09-05 }}  NOAA Ship Townsend Cromwell, Student Connection</ref>
The [[United States Census Bureau]] defines Ka{{okina}}ula as [[census tract|Census Tract]] 411 of [[Kauai County, Hawaii|Kaua{{okina}}i County, Hawai{{okina}}i]]. The [[United States Census, 2000|2000 census]] showed that the uninhabited island had a land area of {{convert|158.2|acre|km2 sqmi}}.<ref>[https://www.census.gov|b=50|l=en|t=4001|zf=0.0|ms=sel_00dec|dw=0.32574415146711605|dh=0.22784596312794334|dt=gov.census.aff.domain.map.EnglishMapExtent|if=gif|cx=-160.54887078557877|cy=21.657999272138042|zl=5|pz=5|bo=318:317:316:314:313:323:319|bl=362:393:358:357:356:355:354|ft=350:349:335:389:388:332:331|fl=381:403:204:380:369:379:368|g=01000US&-PANEL_ID=p_dt_geo_map&-_lang=en&-geo_id=14000US15007041100&-CONTEXT=dt&-format=&-search_results=01000US&-ds_name=DEC_2000_SF1_U Census Tract 411, Kaua{{okina}}i County]  United States Census Bureau</ref> Because of [[erosion]], the island is slowly shrinking.
Kaʻula, which he spelled as "Tahoora", was one of the first five islands sighted by [[Captain James Cook]] in 1778.
==Lighthouse==
A [[lighthouse]] was completed on the island in 1932 by the [[United States Lighthouse Service]], which became part of the [[United States Coast Guard]] in 1939. The lighthouse remained in operation through 1947.
==Military use==
The island has been used as a [[bombing range]] by the [[United 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 of [[unexploded 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 Hawai{{okina}}i claimed ownership of Ka{{okina}}ula and named the island a State Seabird Sanctuary.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Honore |first=Marcel |last2= Heaton|first2=Thomas |date=2024-09-29 |title=Navy Plans To Double Bombing Of This Tiny Hawaiian Island |url=https://www.civilbeat.org/2024/09/navy-plans-to-double-bombing-of-this-tiny-hawaiian-island/ |access-date=2024-09-30 |work=Honolulu Civil Beat |language=en}}</ref> 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 strafing
target.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20100527231810/http://www.nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/nsd/coastpilot/files/cp7/CP7-42ed-Ch14_7.pdf U.S. Coast Pilot 7, Chapter 14, p. 634]</ref>
==Diving==
[[File:Monachus schauinslandi.jpg|thumb|A [[Hawaiian monk seal]] at the Five Fathom Pinnacle on {{nowrap|May 24, 2009.}}]]
Ka{{okina}}ula is uninhabited, but fishermen and [[Scuba diving|scuba divers]] frequently visit the island. Five Fathom Pinnacle, {{convert|3|mi|nmi km|1|abbr=on}} west-northwest of Ka{{okina}}ula, is also a noted dive spot.<ref>[http://www.xpda.com/nwhi/5fathomPinnacle Underwater Photos from Five Fathom Pinnacle]</ref>
==See also==
{{Portal|Islands}}
* [[List of volcanoes in the Hawaiian – Emperor seamount chain]]
* [[List of islands]]
* [[Desert island]]
==Notes==
{{reflist}}
==References==
*{{Cite book
| last1 = Tabrah | first1 = Ruth M.
| authorlink = Ruth Tabrah
| title = Niʻihau, the last Hawaiian island
| publisher = Press Pacifica
| year = 1987
| isbn = 0-916630-59-5
}}
*{{Cite book
| last1 = Tava
| first1 = Rerioterai
| last2 = Keale
| first2 = Moses K.
| title = Niihau, the traditions of a Hawaiian island
| publisher = Mutual Publishing
| year = 1998
| url = http://www.mutualpublishing.com/bookinfo.aspx?bookID=242
| isbn = 0-935180-80-X
| access-date = 2009-05-28
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130524120258/http://www.mutualpublishing.com/bookinfo.aspx?bookID=242
| archive-date = 2013-05-24
| url-status = dead
}}
==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20090106124735/http://www.hawaiioirc.org/OIRC-ISLETS-Niihau/OIRC-ISLETS-Niihau-Kaula.htm Offshore Islet Restoration Committee, Kaula]
*[http://www.janeresture.com/kaula/ Ka{{okina}}ula Island]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20110616145647/http://xpda.com/nauticalcharts/19380%20OAHU%20TO%20NIIHAU.png Nautical Chart Containing Ka{{okina}}ula Island]
*[http://www.xpda.com/hawaii/kaularock/ Kaula Rock Photos] Photographs of Ka{{okina}}ula Island, May 2008
*{{cite gvp|name=Kaula|vn=332811|access-date=2021-06-28}}
{{Kauai County, Hawaii}}
{{Hawaiian volcanism}}
{{Hawaii}}
{{authority control}}
{{coord|21|39|17|N|160|32|29|W|source:eswiki|display=title}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kaula}}
[[Category:Niihau]]
[[Category:Geography of Kauai County, Hawaii]]
[[Category:Hawaiian–Emperor seamount chain]]
[[Category:Tuff cones]]
[[Category:Uninhabited islands of Hawaii]]
[[Category:Volcanoes of Hawaii]]
[[Category:Pliocene volcanoes]]
[[Category:Neogene Oceania]]
[[Category:Cenozoic Hawaii]]
[[Category:Islands of Hawaii]]