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The state of Hawaii is not a single geographical land mass. It consists of a 1,500 mile long chain of islands known as an archipelago. These islands range from multiple small and uninhabited atolls and reefs to the cluster of 8 larger populated islands known as Hawaii, Oahu, Maui, Kauai, Lanai, Molokai, Kahoolawe, and Niihau. These 8 land masses are the youngest of all the Hawaiian Islands. They comprise 99% of the total land area of Hawaii. The Hawaiian Islands form the state of Hawaii. The youngest of the 50 states, Hawaii achieved statehood on August 21st, 1959.
Hawaii is located in the Pacific Ocean on the Pacific Plate. It is nearly 2,400 miles from California and almost 3,900 miles from Japan. Almost 5,300 miles from the Philippines, the Hawaiian islands are the most isolated population centers on the planet.
The Hawaiian islands owe their existence to a hot spot in the Earth's mantle that currently sits beneath the big island of Hawaii. The islands of Hawaii were formed by undersea volcanoes as the Pacific Plate moved over this hotspot in the earth's core. Over the course of millions of years, the islands of Hawaii were formed as the Earth's crust continued its move Northwestward. New islands were formed as the Pacific Plate moved west-northwest, conveying the older islands away from the hotspot...and assigning each a fate to someday sink beneath the sea (including the 8 largest islands). As the volcanoes that formed these islands were pulled from the hotspot, they went dormant as new volcanoes were formed in their wake. Currently, a new island is forming under the sea called Loihi. The youngest volcano of the Hawaiian chain, it resides approximately 30 kilometers off the Southeast coast of Hawaii. Loihi is less than 1 mile from the surface of the sea, and will one day reach the surface.
Hawaii is located in the Pacific Ocean on the Pacific Plate. It is nearly 2,400 miles from California and almost 3,900 miles from Japan. Almost 5,300 miles from the Philippines, the Hawaiian islands are the most isolated population centers on the planet.
The Hawaiian islands owe their existence to a hot spot in the Earth's mantle that currently sits beneath the big island of Hawaii. The islands of Hawaii were formed by undersea volcanoes as the Pacific Plate moved over this hotspot in the earth's core. Over the course of millions of years, the islands of Hawaii were formed as the Earth's crust continued its move Northwestward. New islands were formed as the Pacific Plate moved west-northwest, conveying the older islands away from the hotspot...and assigning each a fate to someday sink beneath the sea (including the 8 largest islands). As the volcanoes that formed these islands were pulled from the hotspot, they went dormant as new volcanoes were formed in their wake. Currently, a new island is forming under the sea called Loihi. The youngest volcano of the Hawaiian chain, it resides approximately 30 kilometers off the Southeast coast of Hawaii. Loihi is less than 1 mile from the surface of the sea, and will one day reach the surface.
Hawaii Facts
Hawaii has 2 official state languages. They are English and Hawaiian. It's nickname is the Aloha State. The state bird is Nene, a Hawaiian goose. Humuhumunukunukuapua`a, also called the rectangular or reef trigger fish (or Hawaiian trigger fish), was declared the official state fish of Hawaii in 1985. The Yellow Hibiscus is the state flower. Along with a diverse range of crops, sugar cane, macadamia nuts, papayas, and coffee are grown in Hawaii. Hawaii is the only state in the nation where coffee is grown.
Tourism has eclipsed agriculture as the major source of revenue for the state of Hawaii. This sector of the economy is also the largest state employer. It is estimated that Hawaii had more than 7 million visitors in 2010. It is estimated that visitors spent approximately $11.4 billion in 2010.
Hawaii maintains the sad distinction of being the endangered species capital of the world. There are more endangered plant and animal species per square mile on the Hawaiian islands than any other place on Earth. This includes the Nene Goose and the Hawaiian Green Sea Turtle.
Tourism has eclipsed agriculture as the major source of revenue for the state of Hawaii. This sector of the economy is also the largest state employer. It is estimated that Hawaii had more than 7 million visitors in 2010. It is estimated that visitors spent approximately $11.4 billion in 2010.
Hawaii maintains the sad distinction of being the endangered species capital of the world. There are more endangered plant and animal species per square mile on the Hawaiian islands than any other place on Earth. This includes the Nene Goose and the Hawaiian Green Sea Turtle.
More Hawaii Facts
Hawaiian History
The islands of Hawaii were first discovered by Polynesian seafarers arriving in large double-hulled canoes between the 3rd and 7th centuries A.D. The islands were later rediscovered by British explorer Captain James Cook in 1778 as he was seeking to discover the Northwest Passage. Landing on the island of Kauai, Cook named them the Sandwich Islands after the First Lord of the Admiralty (the Earl of Sandwich). On a return voyage, Captain Cook was slain during a trivial skirmish on the Big Island (February 13, 1779) over a stolen rowboat.
Following European contact, the islands saw a decline of both traditional Hawaiian culture and a steep decline in the population of native Hawaiians. Isolated from foreign contact by a vast open ocean, the vulnerable native Hawaiian population suffered considerably from the newly introduced diseases of measles, small pox, venereal disease, influenza, whopping cough, and others. This was further compounded by thousands of native Hawaiians leaving to labor on trade and whaling ships. This prompted a serious labor problem for burgeoning industry in Hawaii, thus prompting the government to advocate the import of foreign labor. This prompted a large influx of laborers from Japan, Portugal, China, Korea and the Philippines. The effects of this migration can be seen today in the diverse make-up of Hawaii's multi-ethnic society. Pure Hawaiians are currently considered a minority population in their own land. Some estimates place this number at less than 10,000 people.
The islands were first united under a single ruler, the great Kamehameha I in 1810. In May 1819, Prince Liholiho became King Kamehameha II. Things changed significantly under his reign, as he abolished the ancient kapu religious system that governed every aspect of life in the islands. It directed habits, lifestyles, work methods, social policy and law. Under this strict structure, there was a correct way to live, to worship, and even to eat. The legal system was based on religious kapu, or taboos. A violation of taboos, even by accident, was punishable by death.
Following European contact, the islands saw a decline of both traditional Hawaiian culture and a steep decline in the population of native Hawaiians. Isolated from foreign contact by a vast open ocean, the vulnerable native Hawaiian population suffered considerably from the newly introduced diseases of measles, small pox, venereal disease, influenza, whopping cough, and others. This was further compounded by thousands of native Hawaiians leaving to labor on trade and whaling ships. This prompted a serious labor problem for burgeoning industry in Hawaii, thus prompting the government to advocate the import of foreign labor. This prompted a large influx of laborers from Japan, Portugal, China, Korea and the Philippines. The effects of this migration can be seen today in the diverse make-up of Hawaii's multi-ethnic society. Pure Hawaiians are currently considered a minority population in their own land. Some estimates place this number at less than 10,000 people.
The islands were first united under a single ruler, the great Kamehameha I in 1810. In May 1819, Prince Liholiho became King Kamehameha II. Things changed significantly under his reign, as he abolished the ancient kapu religious system that governed every aspect of life in the islands. It directed habits, lifestyles, work methods, social policy and law. Under this strict structure, there was a correct way to live, to worship, and even to eat. The legal system was based on religious kapu, or taboos. A violation of taboos, even by accident, was punishable by death.
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