LEEWARD ISLANDS

geographical name island chain central Pacific extending 1250 miles (2012 kilometers ) WNW from main islands of the Hawaiian group; includes Nihoa, Necker, Laysan, Midway, & Kure islands, islands S Pacific, W group of the Society Islands population 22,232, islands West Indies in the N Lesser Antilles extending from Virgin Islands (on N) to Dominica (on S), former colony British West Indies in the Leewards including Antigua, St. Kitts-Nevis, & Montserrat