MOLOKAI

volcanic island, Maui and Kalawao counties, Hawaii, U.S., east of Oahu across the Kaiwi Channel and northwest of Maui across the Pailolo Channel. Its western and eastern portions comprise two tablelands, Mauna Loa reaching its peak in Puu Nana (1,381 feet ) and Kamakou (4,970 feet ); these are connected by a saddle (ridge) that is 400 feet (120 m) high. A smaller and much later volcano formed Kalaupapa Peninsula on the northern coast. The island is 40 miles (65 km) long and of fairly even width, about 7 miles (11 km). Its northern side is an almost continuous towering cliff, reaching an elevation of some 3,600 feet (1,100 m) and intersected by many deep valleys, including Halawa, a deep verdant gorge, 4 miles (6.4 km) long and 0.5 mile (0.8 km) wide, suited to agriculture. Molokai's original inhabitants, once self-sufficient taro growers and fishermen, migrated to other islands at the turn of the century. The Hawaiian Homes Act of 1921 encouraged homesteading and resettlement on Molokai. Lack of water slowed development, but after 1923, with the growth of the pineapple industry, small villages grew up on the plateau. The economy of the island suffered a setback in the 1970s and 1980s when the pineapple growers closed down their operations in the face of competition from abroad. Agriculture on the island is more diversified today, with coffee and sweet potatoes among the significant exports. Kaunakakai, the chief village, is on the south coast and has a small harbour. The state's Hansen's Disease (leprosy) Treatment Center occupies an isolated section of the Kalaupapa Peninsula. Area 261 square miles (676 square km). Pop. (1990) island, 6,587.