Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states (August 21, 1959), and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It occupies most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of Australia.
Hawaii’s natural beauty, warm tropical climate, inviting waters and waves, and active volcanoes make it a popular destination for tourists, surfers, biologists, and volcanologists alike. Due to its mid-Pacific location, Hawaii has many North American and Asian influences along with its own vibrant native culture. Hawaii has over a million permanent residents along with many visitors and U.S. military personnel. Its capital is Honolulu on the island of
Oʻahu.
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| Wailua Falls, Kauai |
The state encompasses nearly the entire volcanic
Hawaiian Island chain, which comprises hundreds of islands spread over 1,500 miles (2,400 km). At the southeastern end of the archipelago, the eight "main islands" are (from the northwest to southeast)
Niʻihau,
Kauaʻi,
Oʻahu,
Molokaʻi,
Lānaʻi,
Kahoʻolawe,
Maui, and
Hawaiʻi. The last is by far the largest and is often called "
The Big Island" to avoid confusion with the state as a whole. The archipelago is physiographically and ethnologically part of the Polynesian subregion of Oceania.
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| Kihei Beach, Maui |
Where tourism is concerned,
Hawaii has something for everyone. The island of
Oahu, the most populous and home to the state capital and largest city of
Honolulu, is great for people who wish to experience the islands and still keep the conveniences of a large city. Rain forests and hiking trails are located just minutes from
Waikiki Beach, one of the world's best tourist destinations. In the winter, large waves on Oahu's north shore turn the normally sleepy area into the surfing capital of the world.
On the other hand, those who wish to experience
Hawaii at a slower pace would do well to visit one of the
Neighbor Islands (the other, less populated islands around Oahu). All the neighbor islands offer opportunities to relax and enjoy the sun and scenery. Many of the natural wonders of the Islands are located on the Neighbor Islands, from
Waimea Canyon on Kauai, to
Haleakala on Maui, to
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island of Hawaii. Numerous waterfalls and rainforests evoke memories of what the islands might have looked like before major corporations set their sights on Hawaii. The road to
Hana is one of the most scenic on Maui, as you manipulate many turns overlooking the Eastern coast of the island. It leads you over bridges and past beautiful waterfalls. Ultimately, you can end up at the
Oheo Gulch Pools (which are not sacred and there's more than seven), where the hiking is quite the experience.
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