Back جزر هاواي الشمالية الغربية Arabic Illes de Sotavent (Hawaii) Catalan Northwestern Hawaiian Islands CEB Nordwestliche Hawaii-Inseln German Nordokcidentaj havajaj insuloj Esperanto Islas de Sotavento (Hawái) Spanish Ipar-mendebaldeko Hawaiiar Uharteak Basque Luoteiset Havaijisaaret Finnish Îles hawaïennes du Nord-Ouest French Nuurdwaastelk Hawaii Eilunen FRR
 The Northwestern Hawaiian Islands form part of the Hawaiian island chain | |
  NW Hawaiian Islands Location of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands in the Pacific Ocean  NW Hawaiian Islands NW Hawaiian Islands (Hawaiian Islands) | |
| Geography | |
|---|---|
| Location | Pacific Ocean |
| Coordinates | 25°N 168°W / 25°N 168°W |
| Archipelago | Hawaiian Islands |
| Adjacent to | Pacific Ocean |
| Administration | |
| State/Territory | Hawaii and Midway Island |
The Northwestern Hawaiian Islands also known as the Leeward Hawaiian Islands, are a series of islands and atolls located northwest of Kauai and Niʻihau in the Hawaiian island chain. Politically, these islands are part of Honolulu County in the U.S. state of Hawaii, with the exception of Midway Atoll. Midway Atoll is a territory distinct from the State of Hawaii, and is classified as one of the United States Minor Outlying Islands.[1] The United States Census Bureau designates this area, excluding Midway Atoll, as Census Tract 114.98 of Honolulu County. The total land area of these islands is 3.1075 square miles (8.048 km²). With the exception of Nihoa, all these islands lie north of the Tropic of Cancer, making them the only islands in Hawaii situated outside the tropics.
The Northwestern Hawaiian Islands are part of the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument, a globally significant marine conservation area. They are home to endangered species like the Hawaiian monk seal and green sea turtle and hold cultural importance for Native Hawaiians. Geologically, they are the oldest in the Hawaiian-Emperor seamount chain, shaped by volcanic activity and erosion over millions of years.
The Northwestern or Leeward Hawaiian Islands include
- Nihoa (Moku Manu) at 23°03′38″N 161°55′19″W / 23.06056°N 161.92194°W
- Necker (Mokumanamana) at 23°34′30″N 164°42′01″W / 23.57500°N 164.70028°W
- French Frigate Shoals (Kānemilohaʻi) at 23°52′12″N 166°17′06″W / 23.87000°N 166.28500°W
- Gardner Pinnacles (Pūhāhonu) at 24°59′57″N 167°59′56″W / 24.99917°N 167.99889°W
- Maro Reef (Nalukākala) at 25°26′15″N 170°35′24″W / 25.43750°N 170.59000°W
- Laysan (Kauō) at 25°46′12″N 171°44′06″W / 25.77000°N 171.73500°W
- Lisianski (Papaʻāpoho) at 26°03′45″N 173°57′54″W / 26.06250°N 173.96500°W
- Pearl and Hermes Atoll (Holoikauaua) at 27°47′24″N 175°49′12″W / 27.79000°N 175.82000°W
- Midway Atoll (Pihemanu) at 28°12′27″N 177°21′00″W / 28.20750°N 177.35000°W - not part of the State of Hawaii
- Kure Atoll (Mokupāpapa) at 28°23′24″N 178°17′42″W / 28.39000°N 178.29500°W
- ^ "Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument". www.papahanaumokuakea.gov. Archived from the original on 2019-12-15. Retrieved 2019-12-15.