Lāna’i is the sixth largest of the main islands of Hawai`i. Over 200,000 years ago, Lāna’i was once part of Maui Nui a large island comprised of seven shield volcanoes.
As a result of erosion, rising sea levels and plate tectonics, this prehistoric island’s low valleys became submerged resulting in the islands of Maui, Moloka`i, Kaho`olawe and Lāna’i .
Though many native species have disappeared on Lāna’i due to overgrazing and extensive soil erosion, the last major remnant of the olopua/lama dryland forest that once covered large portions of the lowlands of Maui Nui still occurs on Lāna’i.
Find out more about the forest environments of Lāna’i by connecting to the Department of Land and Natural Resources Hawaii’s Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy.
Maps
United States Geological Survey
Water and Weather
Hawaii Association of Watershed Partnerships