Editing Kauai (section)

==Geography==

[[File:2017-Kauai-Island.jpg|thumb|Aerial view of Kaua{{okina}}i]]
[[File: Na Pali Coast.jpg|thumb|[[Na Pali Coast State Park]] ]]
[[File:Coast of Kauai, Hawaii.jpg|thumb|[[Kalalau Beach]]]]

The five-million-year-old island, the oldest of the main islands (Ni{{okina}}ihau is older), was formed volcanically as the [[Pacific Plate]] passed over the [[Hawaii hotspot]].<ref name="Juvik-1998">{{cite book |last1=Juvik |first1=Sonia P. |first2=James O. |last2=Juvik |first3=Thomas R. |last3=Paradise |title=Atlas of Hawai'i |url={{google books |plainurl=y |id=f0efIh9CV94C |page=3}}|year=1998|publisher=University of Hawaii Press|isbn=978-0-8248-2125-8|pages=3–6}}</ref> It consists of an eroded [[shield volcano]] with a {{cvt|9.3|–|12.4|mi}} diameter summit [[caldera]] and two flanking calderas. [[Evolution of Hawaiian volcanoes#Rejuvenated stage|Rejuvenation]] of the volcano 0.6–1.40 million years ago left [[lava|lava flow]]s and [[volcanic cone|cones]] over the eastern two-thirds of the island.<ref>{{cite gvp |name=Kauai |vn=332809 |access-date=2021-06-28}}</ref>

Kaua{{okina}}i's highest peak is [[Kawaikini]], at {{cvt|5243|ft|m|0}}.<ref name="ElevationRef">{{cite web |url=http://www.hawaii.gov/dbedt/info/economic/databook/db2004/section05.pdf |title=Table 5.11 – Elevations of Major Summits |work=2004 State of Hawaii Data Book |publisher=State of Hawaii |year=2004 |access-date=2007-07-23 |archive-date=2013-03-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130309031745/http://hawaii.gov/dbedt/info/economic/databook/db2004/section05.pdf |url-status=live}}</ref> The second-highest is [[Mount Waialeale|Mount Wai{{okina}}ale{{okina}}ale]], near the center of the island, {{cvt|5148|ft}} above sea level. One of the wettest spots on earth, with an annual average rainfall of {{cvt|460|in|ft m|1}}, is on the east side of Mount Wai{{okina}}ale{{okina}}ale. The rain has eroded deep valleys in the central mountains, carving out canyons with many scenic waterfalls. On the west side of the island, [[Waimea, Kauai County, Hawaii|Waimea]] town is at the mouth of the [[Waimea River (Kauai)|Waimea River]], whose flow formed Waimea Canyon, one of the world's most scenic canyons, which is part of [[Waimea Canyon State Park]]. At {{cvt|3000|ft|spell=in}} deep, Waimea Canyon is often called "The [[Grand Canyon]] of the Pacific". [[Kokeo Point]] lies on the island's south side.{{cn|date=December 2023}} The [[Na Pali Coast]] is an isolated center for recreation, including kayaking along the beaches and hiking on the trail along the coastal cliffs.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.kalalautrail.com/information.html |title=Trail Information – Kalalau Trail |access-date=2011-09-07 |archive-date=2011-08-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110830012336/http://www.kalalautrail.com/information.html |url-status=live}}</ref> The headlands Kamala Point, Kawai Point, Kawelikoa Point, Kuahonu Point, Pao{{okina}}a Point, and Molehu Point are on the southeast of the island; Makaokaha{{okina}}i Point and Weli Point are in the south.
===Climate===
{{climate chart
|Kaua{{okina}}i
|16|22|31
|14|22|110
|15|24|99
|15|24|34
|17|24|37
|18|25|4
|18|26|11
|18|25|27
|19|24|15
|18|24|35
|18|23|27
|17|21|107
|float=left
|source=<ref name="nasa">{{Cite web |url=http://neo.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov/dataset_index.php |title=NASA Earth Observations Data Set Index |access-date=30 January 2016 |publisher=NASA |archive-date=28 November 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171128214629/https://neo.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov/dataset_index.php |url-status=live}}</ref>
}}

Kaua{{okina}}i's climate is tropical, with generally humid and stable conditions year-round, although infrequent storms cause severe flooding. At the lower elevations, the annual precipitation varies from an average of about {{cvt|50|in|cm}} on the windward (northeastern) shore to less than {{cvt|20|in|cm}} on the (southwestern) leeward side of the island. The average temperature in [[Lihu'e]], the county seat, ranges from {{cvt|78|°F}} in February to {{cvt|85|°F}} in August and September. 

Kaua{{okina}}i's mountainous regions offer cooler temperatures in contrast to the warm coastal areas. At [[Kōke{{okina}}e State Park]], {{cvt|3,200|-|4,200|ft}} [[Above sea level|ASL]], day temperatures vary from an average of {{cvt|45|°F}} in January to {{cvt|68|°F}} in July. In the winter, temperatures have been known to drop down to the 30s and 40s at the park, which holds an unofficial record low of {{cvt|29|°F}}, recorded in February 1986 at Kanaloahuluhulu Meadow.

Precipitation in Kaua{{okina}}i's mountainous regions averages {{cvt|50|–|100|inch|mm}} annually. About {{cvt|10|mi|spell=in}} southeast of Kōke{{okina}}e state park, at an elevation of {{cvt|5,075|ft}}, is the Mt. Wai{{okina}}ale{{okina}}ale rain gauge.<ref>Henning, D. (1967). Mt. Waialeale. Wetter und Leben (Vienna). 19(5–6), 93–100</ref> Mt. Wai{{okina}}ale{{okina}}ale is often cited as the wettest spot on earth, although this has been disputed. Based on data for the period from 1931 through 1960, the average yearly precipitation was {{cvt|460|inch|mm|-2}} (U.S. Environmental Science Services Administration, 1968). Between 1949 and 2004, the average yearly precipitation at Mt. Wai{{okina}}ale{{okina}}ale was {{cvt|374|inch|mm|-2}}.<ref>USGS, NWIS</ref>

Kaua{{okina}}i also holds a record in hourly precipitation. During a storm on January 24–25, 1956, a rain gauge at Kaua{{okina}}i's former Kilauea Sugar Plantation recorded a record {{cvt|12|inch|mm|0|spell=in}} of precipitation in just 60 minutes. The value for one hour is an underestimate, since the rain gauge overflowed, which may have resulted in an error by as much as {{cvt|1|in|adj=on}}.<ref>Schmidli, R.J. (1983). Weather extremes (NOAA Technical Memorandum NWS WR-28, Revised.) Salt Lake City, UT: NOAA.</ref> An accurate measurement may have exceeded [[Holt, Missouri]]'s world-record rainfall of {{cvt|12|in}} in 42 minutes on June 22, 1947.<ref>National Climatic Data Center</ref>

{{clear}}

===Time zone===
[[Hawaii–Aleutian Time Zone|Hawaii Standard Time]] ([[UTC−10:00]]) is observed on Kaua{{okina}}i year-round. When mainland states are on [[daylight saving time]], for example, the time on Kaua{{okina}}i is three hours behind the [[West Coast of the United States]] and six hours behind the [[East Coast of the United States|East Coast]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bestplaceshawaii.com/island_insights/kauai/ |title=Discover Kauai |publisher=H&S Publishing, LLC |access-date=2011-04-02 |archive-date=2011-02-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110213072037/http://www.bestplaceshawaii.com/island_insights/kauai/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

===River system===

*[[Waimea River (Kauai)|Waimea River]] {{cvt|35.7|km}}
*[[Hanalei River]] {{cvt|26.5|km}}
*[[Hanapēpē River]] {{cvt|24.2|km}}
*[[Wainiha River, Hawaii|Wainiha River]] {{cvt|24|km}}
*[[Wailuā River]] {{cvt|23.4|km}}
*[[Makaweli River, Kauai|Makaweli River]] {{cvt|23.2|km}}
*[[Hulā{{okina}}ia River]] {{aka}} [[Hulē{{okina}}ia River]] {{cvt|21.4|km}}
*[[Kalihi Wai River]] {{cvt|20|km}}
*[[Anahola River]] {{cvt|19.4|km}}
*[[Lumaha{{okina}}i River]] {{cvt|16|km}}
*[[Kō{{okina}}ula River]] {{cvt|14.8|km}}
*[[Olokele River]] {{cvt|14.4|km}}
*[[Kīlauea Stream]] {{cvt|13.4|km}}
*[[Waikomo Stream]] {{cvt|9.8|km}}

===Waterfalls===

*[[Hāli{{okina}}i Falls]]
*[[Hanakāpī{{okina}}ai Falls]]
*[[Hinalele Falls]]
*[[Kalihi Wai Falls]]
*[[Kīlauea Falls]]
*[[Mānāwaiopuna Falls]]
*[[{{okina}}Ōpaeka{{okina}}a Falls]]
*[[Wailua Falls]]
*[[Waipo{{okina}}o Falls]]

<gallery>
Falls at Waimea Canyon.jpg|Waipo{{okina}}o Falls at [[Waimea Canyon State Park]]
Manawaiopuna Falls.jpg|[[Manawaiopuna Falls]]
Wailua Falls, Kauai.JPG|[[Wailua Falls]]
</gallery>