This article is about the Caribbean island group. For the western Society Islands in French Polynesia, see Leeward Islands (Society Islands); The Northwestern Hawaiian Islands are also sometimes called the Leeward Islands.

The Leeward Islands are the northern islands of the Lesser Antilles.

Name and confusing designations

---

They are called "leeward" because the prevailing winds in the area blow from south to north. Thus, the Leeward Islands are downwind, on the backside, or leeward from the Windward Islands, the group of islands that first meet the Trade Winds coming from the south. The division between the Windward and Leeward Islands is different in English than it is in some other languages, notably French (Îles sous-le-vent), Spanish (Islas de Sotavento), German and Dutch (Benedenwindse Eilanden). In English, the conventional division is held to be between Dominica and Martinique, while in Spanish, the islands between the Virgin Islands south to, and including, Trinidad and Tobago are called the "Windward Islands", while only the islands off Venezuela are called the "Leeward Islands".

More on [ Leeward Islands ]

Honolulu Advertiser - Local news

Homeless center closes doors
Sat, 06 Sep 2008 08:09:00 -1000
A one-stop resource center where Wahiawa's homeless pick up everything from toiletries to service referrals is in search of a new home — and fast.
Removal of Bellows landfill kicks off
Sat, 06 Sep 2008 08:12:00 -1000
WAIMANALO — A landfill that has been decaying for 60 years on the shores of Bellows Air Force Station will be removed thanks to a joint military and community effort.
Mayor's ad with Obama clarified
Sat, 06 Sep 2008 00:16:00 -1000
A campaign advertisement featuring Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann and Democratic presidential nominee U.S. Sen. Barack Obama was not sanctioned by the Obama campaign and does not amount to an official endorsement, local Obama campaign officials said.
Equipment issue cited before copter crash
Sat, 06 Sep 2008 00:10:00 -1000
Investigators yesterday started piecing together the final moments before a Coast Guard helicopter went down in waters five miles off Honolulu Airport Thursday night — killing three crew members and triggering a massive search for the fourth — and said the only apparent problem happened when the line that lowers the rescue basket seemed to malfunction.
Service patrol to roam Oahu freeways, offer aid to motorists
Sat, 06 Sep 2008 00:10:00 -1000
Starting early next year a fleet of state-owned tow trucks will roam H-1 and Moanalua freeways during rush hour and offer free help to drivers in distress.
Government may take control of mortgage giants Fannie, Freddie
Sat, 06 Sep 2008 00:11:00 -1000
WASHINGTON — The government is expected to take over Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac as soon as this weekend in a monumental move designed to protect the mortgage market from the failure of the two companies, which together hold or guarantee half of the nation's mortgage debt, a person briefed on the matter said last night.

Subscribe to Hawaii RSS feed