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Ālieiki Lake

Coordinates: 21°50′31″N 160°11′36″W / 21.841920°N 160.193358°W / 21.841920; -160.193358
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Ālieiki Lake
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Interactive map of Ālieiki Lake
LocationNiʻihau
Coordinates21°50′31″N 160°11′36″W / 21.841920°N 160.193358°W / 21.841920; -160.193358
Typeephemeral lake
Basin countriesUnited States
Max. length0.35 km (0.22 mi)
Max. width0.12 km (0.075 mi)
Surface area
35 acres (14 ha)
Surface elevation
9.8 ft (3.0 m)

Ālieiki Lake is an ephemeral lake located in the southern part of the island of Niʻihau.[1] It appears on Hawaiian place-name records, early geological bulletins, and topographic maps of Niʻihau compiled in the early to mid-20th century.[2][3][4]

During the rainy season, low-lying areas fill with fresh water and the lake swells to approximately 35 acres in area.[5] It is located directly south of Halaliʻi Lake, the largest natural lake in the Hawaiian Islands. In dry periods on the arid island, Alieiki becomes a flat reddish dry lakebed.[6]

The Makaloa sedge (Cyperus laevigatus) grows along the lake’s margins and was traditionally used by Native Hawaiians to weave Makaloa mats.[6] The wetlands surrounding Alieiki provide habitat for several native Hawaiian waterbirds, including the ʻalae keʻokeʻo (Hawaiian coot), aeʻo (Hawaiian stilt), and koloa maoli (Hawaiian duck).[7][8]

The lake is also part of traditional mullet (pua) aquaculture practices historically carried out on Niʻihau. Young fish enter through lava tubes or are transported in barrels during the rainy season. As water levels recede in the summer, adult mullet are harvested and often sold on Kauaʻi and Oʻahu.[9]

See also

References

Bibliography

  • Pukui, Mary Kawena; Elbert, Samuel H.; Mookini, Esther T. (1974). Place Names of Hawaii. Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press.
  • Powers, Sidney (1920). Dana, Edward S. (ed.). "Notes on Hawaiian Petrology". The American Journal of Science. Harvard University Press: 256–280.
  • Wentworth, Chester K. (1925). The Geology of Lānai. Bulletin no. 24. Honolulu: Bernice P. Bishop Museum Press. pp. 92, 258.
  • Aitken, Robert T. (1930). Ethnology of Tubuai. Bayard Dominick Expedition Bulletin no. 70. Honolulu: Bernice P. Bishop Museum. p. 92.
  • Young, Peter T. (August 22, 2012). "Ni'ihau Lakes". Image of Old Hawaiʻi. Hoʻokuleana LLC. Retrieved May 16, 2017.
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