Hawaii

Hawaii (Hawaiian/Hawaiian English: Hawai‘i, with the ‘okina; also, historically, the Sandwich Islands) is the archipelago of the Hawaiian Islands in the Pacific Ocean. Admitted on August 21, 1959, Hawaii constitutes the 50th state of the United States. As of the 2000 U.S. Census it had a population of 1,211,537 people. Honolulu is the largest city and the state capital.

Geography

Main article: Hawaiian Islands

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Nineteen islands and atolls extending across a distance of 2,400 km (1,500 mi) comprise the Hawaiian Archipelago. The main islands are the eight high islands at the southeastern end of the island chain. These islands are, in order from the northwest to southeast, Ni‘ihau, Kaua‘i, O‘ahu, Moloka‘i, Lāna‘i, Kaho‘olawe, Maui and the Island of Hawai‘i.

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All of the Hawaiian Islands were formed by volcanoes arising from the sea floor through a vent described in geological theory as a hotspot. The theory maintains that as the tectonic plate beneath much the Pacific Ocean moves in a northwesterly direction, the hot spot remains stationary, slowly creating new volcanoes. This explains why only volcanoes on the southern half of the Island of Hawai‘i are presently active. The last volcanic eruption outside the Island of Hawai‘i happened at Haleakal? on Maui in the late 18th century. The newest volcano to form is L?‘ihi, deep below the waters off the south coast of the Island of Hawai‘i.

Related Topics:
Volcano - Hotspot - Tectonic plate - Haleakal? - 18th century - L?‘ihi

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The isolation of the Hawaiian Islands in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, and the wide range of environments to be found on high islands located in and near the tropics, has resulted in a vast array of endemic flora and fauna. The volcanic activity and subsequent erosion created impressive geological features. Those conditions make Mount Wai‘ale‘ale the wettest place on earth; it averages 11.7 m (460 in) of rain annually.

Related Topics:
Endemic - Flora - Fauna - Erosion - Mount Wai‘ale‘ale

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The movement of the Hawaiian royal family from the Island of Hawai‘i to Maui and subsequently to O‘ahu explains why certain population centers exist where they do to-day. The largest city, Honolulu, was the one chosen by King Kamehameha III as the capital of his kingdom due to the natural harbor there, the present-day Honolulu Harbor. Other large cities and towns include Hilo, Kahului and Līhu‘e.

Related Topics:
Honolulu - Honolulu Harbor - Hilo - Kahului - Līhu‘e

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Image:Niihausatellite.jpg|Ni‘ihau

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Image:Kauai from space oriented.jpg|Kaua‘i

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Image:Oahu.jpg|O‘ahu

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Image:Maui.jpg|Maui

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Image:Molokaifromsatellite.jpg|Moloka‘i

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Image:Lanaisatellite.jpg|Lāna‘i

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Image:Kahoolawesatellite.jpg|Kaho‘olawe

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Image:STS61A-50-57.jpg|Hawai‘i

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