2. Where is Hawaii
Location of Hawaii
Though Hawaii is part of the United States, it is a chain of
islands located about 3,200 kilometers (2,000 miles) from the
continental United States, out in the middle of the Pacific
Ocean. Hawaii is the southernmost of the United States, and
the Aleutian Islands of Alaska are the only part of the United
States that extend farther west than Hawaii. Hawaii's location
also makes it the only state not located in North America.
As an island state, Hawaii does not share any borders with
other states or countries. Hawaii is made up of eight main
islands: Hawaii, Maui, Oahu, Kahoolawe, Lanai, Molokai,
Kauai, Niihau. Smaller islands are also part of the state, of
which there are more than 100, include Ka'ala.
3. Hawaii Beach's
• Waikiki Beach, Oahu. Waikiki
Beach, Oahu. ...
• Kauna 'oa Beach, The Big
Island. Kauna 'oa Beach, The
Big Island. ...
• North Shore, Oahu. North
Shore, Oahu. ...
• Punalu'u Beach, The Big
Island. Punalu'u Beach, The
Big Island. ...
• Lanikai, Oahu. Lanikai, Oahu.
...
4. History of Hawaii
• “The Aloha State” became the 50th state in 1959, but the history of Hawaii
goes back centuries earlier. Roughly 1,500 years ago, Polynesians from the
Marquesas Islands first set foot on Hawaii Island. With only the stars to
guide them, they miraculously sailed over 2000 miles in canoes to migrate
to the Islands.
• 500 years later, settlers from Tahiti arrived, bringing their beliefs in gods
and demi-gods and instituting a strict social hierarchy based on a kapu
(taboo) system. Hawaiian culture flourished over the centuries, giving rise
to the art of the hula and the sport of surfing, but land division conflicts
between ruling chieftains were common. In 1791, North Kohala born
Kamehameha united the warring factions of Hawaii Island and went on to
unify all of the Hawaiian Islands into one royal kingdom in 1810. In 1819,
less than a year after King Kamehameha's death, his son, Liholiho,
abolished the ancient kapu system.
• In 1820, the first Protestant missionaries arrived on Hawaii Island filling
the void left after the end of the kapu system. Hawaii became a port for
seamen, traders and whalers. The whaling industry boom flourished in
Lahaina Harbor in Maui. Throughout these years of growth, western
disease took a heavy toll on the Native Hawaiian population.
• Western influence continued to grow and in 1893, American Colonists who
controlled much of Hawaii's economy overthrew the Hawaiian Kingdom in
a peaceful, yet still controversial coup. In 1898, Hawaii became a territory
of the United States.
5. Hawaii Volcanoes• Volcanoes of Hawaii
• What’s so special about Hawaii’s volcanoes?
• Hawaii emerged from the sea millions of years ago, forged by the power of
volcanoes. Today, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on Hawaii Island is one of the
few places in the world where visitors can come face to face with an active
volcano. This once in a lifetime chance to safely explore Kilauea, one of the world's
most active volcanoes, makes Hawaii a destination unlike any other.
• Remember the volcanoes at your school science fair? Unlike those steep, conical
peaks, Hawaii's main volcanoes are "shield" volcanoes. Shield volcanoes produce
generally fluid lava flows that form gently sloping shield-like mountains. A good
example is Maunaloa, the most massive mountain on earth, deceptively covering
half of Hawaii Island. How many active volcanoes are on Hawaii?
• There are currently three active volcanoes in Hawaii. On Hawaii Island you'll find
Maunaloa and Kilauea in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Maunaloa last erupted in
1984 and Kilauea has been continuously erupting since 1983. Loihi is located
underwater off the southern coast of Hawaii's Big Island. Erupting since 1996, this
emerging seamount may break the surface in about 250,000 years, adding a ninth
island to the Hawaiian chain. Other notable volcano craters that you can hike and
explore include Haleakala on Maui as well as Leahi (Diamond Head) and the
National Memorial of the Pacific at Punchbowl on Oahu.
• What is Hawaii Volcanoes National Park?
• Today, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is Hawaii's #1 visitor attraction. This 377-
square mile park on Hawaii Island is a living museum where visitors can witness
the power of Hawaii's volcanoes in surprisingly intimate ways. You'll feel great
mana, or spiritual power, here as you hike along rocky trails and desolate deserts
that in time will flourish and thrive with new life.
6. Hawaii Favorite spots• At World War II Valor in the Pacific National
Monument, home of the USS Arizona
Memorial, learn about one of the most
pivotal moments in US history: the attack on
Pearl Harbor, and the subsequent entry of
the United States into World War II. The
monument preserves and interprets the
stories of the Pacific War, from the
internment of Japanese Americans to the
battles in the Aleutians. Designed by
Honolulu architect Alfred Preis, the USS
Arizona Memorial was built in 1962 on top
of (but not touching) the sunken Battleship
USS Arizona. The Arizona was bombed on
December 7, 1941, about 15 minutes into
the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, killing
1,177 sailors and Marines on board. Today
she rests where she fell, just off the coast of
Ford Island. The memorial honors the
memory of the crew of the USS Arizona, as
well as all the other service members and
civilians who died during the attack. A total
of 2,335 sailors, soldiers, and marines died
as a result of the attack, as well as 68
civilians.
7. Fun Facts of Hawaii
• Hawaii state's nickname is
"Aloha State', because the word
'Aloha' is one of the most
commonly used words in
Hawaiian Language. Based on
the context, Aloha can mean
'hello', 'welcome', 'love', 'best
wishes' or even 'goodbye'Hawaii
is the only US state with a
tropical rain forest. Iolani Palace,
in Honolulu, is the only royal
palace in the United States.
Electric lights illuminated Iolani
Palace four years before the
White House in Washington D.C.
had them
8. What is Hawaii known for producing
• Sugar cane and pineapples are
Hawaii's most valuable crops.
Hawaii also produces large
quantities of flowers, much for
export. Coffee, macadamia nuts,
avocados, bananas, guavas,
papayas, tomatoes and other
fruits are grown. Vegetables
raised for local use include
beans, corn, lettuce, potatoes
and taro.
9. Hawaii State Bird
• The nene, or Hawaiian goose (Branta
sandwicensis) was designated the official
state bird of Hawaii in 1957. All State Birds
• Nene Facts
• The plumage of male and female nene is
identical. Nene seldom swim and are not
bothered by predators or cold
temperatures, so they do not fly as much
and their wings are weak compared to
other geese. Today nene have feet that are
only half as webbed as other geese, and
longer toes for climbing on the rocky
Hawaiian surfaces. This unique bird is
endangered. All Threatened & Endangered
Symbols
10. Hawaii State Flower
• The pua aloalo, or yellow hibiscus
(Hibiscus brackenridgei) was designated
the official state flower of Hawaii in 1988
(also called ma`o-hau-hele).
• Official Island Flowers
• Each Hawaiian island also designates an
official flower or lei material (as well as
an official island color):
• Hawai'i: red pua lehua ('ohi'a blossom);
• Maui: lokelani (pink Damask rose);
• O'ahu: pua 'ilima;