Hiw (island)
Hiw is an island in the Torres Islands of Torba Province in Vanuatu - the northernmost island of the country.
The island has a humid tropical climate with heavy rainfall; it is characterized by its white sand beaches, thick tree cover, and natural resources.
According to the 2009 Vanuatu census, Hiw has a population of approximately 269 inhabitants, distributed across three villages on the east coast - Yogwye, Yaqane, and Yögevigemëne. The population of Hiw speaks the Hiw language, an endangered language with few native speakers.
Etymology
The island's name Hiw is taken from the local indigenous Hiw language. Etymologically, it derives from Proto-Oceanic *sipo in meaning "down", used in its geocentric sense “northwest”.Geography
Hiw is the largest of the four volcanic islands of the Torres Islands group in Torba Province. It is the northernmost of the islands of Vanuatu, and is situated to the south and east of the Solomon Islands. The island has abundant natural resources, as well as white sandy beaches.Covering an area of, the island is encircled by fringing coral reefs, and has a coastline. It has dense tropical rain forests that supports ecosystems typical of high-rainfall Pacific islands. Hiw's climate is tropical with high humidity and temperatures. It is a declared terrestrial conservation area. The topography consists of gently sloping hills with rounded tops, with an average elevation of. The highest point is Mount Wonvara at.