Sand Island (Hawaii)
Encyclopedia
Sand Island, formerly known as Quarantine Island, is a small island within the city of Honolulu, Hawaii
, United States
. The island lies at the entrance to Honolulu Harbor
.
During World War II
, Sand Island was used as an Army
internment
camp to house Japanese American
s as well as expatriates from Germany
, Italy
, and other Axis countries living in Hawaii. The camp was closed in March 1943, and most of the internees moved to the Honouliuli Internment Camp
.
During the 1970s, over 100 homeless native Hawaiians cleaned up the garbage that filled the island, build homes, and took up residence. In the early 1980s, 180 acres of the island were reclaimed by the State of Hawaii for industrial and recreational development. Those who had taken up residence were evicted without compensation.
the island has a land area of 203.78 ha
(0.7868 sq mi, or 503.55 acres), and a population of 184 persons as of the 2000 census
.
Honolulu, Hawaii
Honolulu is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Hawaii. Honolulu is the southernmost major U.S. city. Although the name "Honolulu" refers to the urban area on the southeastern shore of the island of Oahu, the city and county government are consolidated as the City and...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The island lies at the entrance to Honolulu Harbor
Honolulu Harbor
Honolulu Harbor, also called Kulolia and Ke Awa O Kou, is the principal seaport of Honolulu and the State of Hawaii in the United States. It is from Honolulu Harbor, located on Mamala Bay, that the City & County of Honolulu was developed and urbanized, in an outward fashion, over the course of the...
.
History
It was known as Quarantine Island during the nineteenth century, when it was used to quarantine ships believed to carry contagious passengers.During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Sand Island was used as an Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
internment
Internment
Internment is the imprisonment or confinement of people, commonly in large groups, without trial. The Oxford English Dictionary gives the meaning as: "The action of 'interning'; confinement within the limits of a country or place." Most modern usage is about individuals, and there is a distinction...
camp to house Japanese American
Japanese American
are American people of Japanese heritage. Japanese Americans have historically been among the three largest Asian American communities, but in recent decades have become the sixth largest group at roughly 1,204,205, including those of mixed-race or mixed-ethnicity...
s as well as expatriates from Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, and other Axis countries living in Hawaii. The camp was closed in March 1943, and most of the internees moved to the Honouliuli Internment Camp
Honouliuli Internment Camp
The Honouliuli Internment Camp was one of five internment camps in Hawaii during World War II.-Construction and operation:Run by the US Army, the camp's supervisor was Captain Siegfried Spillner. The camp was constructed on of land near Ewa on the island of Oahu to hold internees transferred from...
.
During the 1970s, over 100 homeless native Hawaiians cleaned up the garbage that filled the island, build homes, and took up residence. In the early 1980s, 180 acres of the island were reclaimed by the State of Hawaii for industrial and recreational development. Those who had taken up residence were evicted without compensation.
Geography and population
According to the United States Census BureauUnited States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
the island has a land area of 203.78 ha
Hectare
The hectare is a metric unit of area defined as 10,000 square metres , and primarily used in the measurement of land. In 1795, when the metric system was introduced, the are was defined as being 100 square metres and the hectare was thus 100 ares or 1/100 km2...
(0.7868 sq mi, or 503.55 acres), and a population of 184 persons as of the 2000 census
United States Census, 2000
The Twenty-second United States Census, known as Census 2000 and conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States on April 1, 2000, to be 281,421,906, an increase of 13.2% over the 248,709,873 persons enumerated during the 1990 Census...
.
Climate
Sand island climate is mild year round with very little seasonal difference in temperatures, however there is a very distinct difference between the wet and dry season. Summer highs are in the upper 80's to low 90's. Winter highs in the upper 70's to mid 80's. Precipitation is light year round, more so in the Summer. There is approximately 3,100 hours of sunshine annually.See also
- Japanese American internmentJapanese American internmentJapanese-American internment was the relocation and internment by the United States government in 1942 of approximately 110,000 Japanese Americans and Japanese who lived along the Pacific coast of the United States to camps called "War Relocation Camps," in the wake of Imperial Japan's attack on...
- German American internmentGerman American internmentGerman American Internment refers to the detention of people of German citizenship in the United States during World War I and World War II.-Civilian internees:...
- Italian American internmentItalian American internmentItalian American internment refers to the internment of Italian Americans in the United States during World War II.-Terms:The term "Italian American" does not have a legal definition...