Puʻuwai, Hawaii facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Puʻuwai, Hawaii
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 Puʻuwai, Hawaii
Location in Hawaii
Puʻuwai, Hawaii
Location in Pacific Ocean
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| Country | United States |
| State | Hawaii |
| County | Kauai |
| Island | Niihau |
| Population | |
| • Total | 130 |
| Time zone | UTC-10 (Hawaii-Aleutian (HST)) |
Puʻuwai is a special village in Hawaii. Its name means "heart" in the Hawaiian language. It is the only village on the small island of Niʻihau. This island is part of Kauai County, in the United States.
The people of Puʻuwai are Native Hawaiians. They speak a special version of the Hawaiian language called the Niihau dialect. Life in Puʻuwai is very traditional. The community lives much like people did hundreds of years ago. Modern comforts are very limited here.
The island of Niʻihau is about 29 kilometers (18 miles) west of Kauaʻi. Puʻuwai is the westernmost village in the main Hawaiian Islands.
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Life in Puʻuwai
Life in Puʻuwai is unique. The people keep their ancient traditions alive. They do not have many modern things like cars or paved roads. This helps them stay connected to their heritage.
Getting to Puʻuwai
It is very hard to visit Puʻuwai. Only people who live on Niʻihau can usually go there. Sometimes, official visitors or invited guests are allowed. This helps protect the island's special way of life.
Education in the Village
Puʻuwai has a one-room schoolhouse. This means students of different ages learn together in one classroom. It is a special way to get an education in the village.
Puʻuwai in Movies
Puʻuwai has even appeared in a movie!
The Final Countdown
The island was featured in a 1980 film called The Final Countdown. This movie is an "alternate history" story. This means it imagines what might have happened if history was different. In the film, Niʻihau is shown as a deserted place. Characters are left there on the morning of the 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor. The movie was filmed on a real aircraft carrier, the USS Nimitz (CVN-68).
