Geochemical sourcing of rock specimens and stone artifacts from Nihoa and Necker Islands,Hawai'i

We report geochemical analysis of seven rock specimens and six stone artifacts from Nihoa and Necker Islands, Hawai'i. The analyzed rock specimens exhibit chemistry consistent with published data sets and establish a major element distinction between Nihoa and Necker. Their trace element data indicate that the analyzed rocks and artifacts are local in origin and they reliably discriminate from sources on Kaua'i. These preliminary results support Emory's thesis that early (archaic) Hawaiian colonists on Nihoa and Necker relied on their local basaltic stone to manufacture stone tools, containers, and other portable objects.