The Aloha State, as Hawaii was officially nicknamed upon
becoming the 50th state of the Union on August 21, 1959, occupies a land area
almost wholly volcanic in origin.
The state is composed of eight main islands and 124 islets,
reefs, and shoals. Honolulu, the capital and largest city of Hawaii, lies about
3,900 km (about 2,400 mi) from the western coast of the United States mainland.
The Main Islands
Hawaii - often called the Big Island, is almost
twice as large as the rest of the islands combined. Roughly triangular in shape,
it extends 150 km (93 mi) from north to south and 122 km (76 mi) from east to
west. The island is a huge mountainous mass dominated by two great volcanic
peaks, Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea.
Maui - is sometimes called
the Valley Island because it consists of two mountain masses separated by
a low, narrow valley-like isthmus. It is the second largest island.
Molokai - is called the Friendly Island because of
the hospitality its inhabitants extend to visitors. Its eastern half is a
mountainous area that rises to 1,512 m (4,961 ft) at Mount Kamakou.
Lanai - known as the Pineapple Island for the many
years it was a prosperous pineapple plantation, was recently opened to tourism.
Its years of private ownership by the Dole Food Company and reputation today as
a place where visitors can find seclusion has bestowed upon it a new nickname as
the Private Island.
Oahu - called the Gathering Place, is the home of
870,000 people, or about three-quarters of the state’s total population, and the
site of Honolulu, the state capital. The island is made up of two parallel
mountain ranges, which are separated by a low rolling plateau and fringed by
narrow coastal plains.
Kauai - the wettest and greenest of the islands, is often
called the Garden Island. Perhaps the most scenic island of Hawaii, it is
an area of luxuriant vegetation, multihued canyons, and numerous streams and
waterfalls.
Niihau - is frequently called the Aloof Island or
Forbidden Island and is the private property of the Robinson family, the
descendants of Mrs. Elizabeth Sinclair and family, who purchased the island from
the Hawaiian government in 1864. Only invited guests of the residents or of the
owners are welcome there.
Kahoolowe - the Uninhabited Island
is the smallest of the main islands. It was used for
combat training and as a bombing target from 1941 until 1994. It is rocky
and sparsely vegetated, especially in the upper region of the island. It has a
maximum elevation of only 450 m (1,477 ft).
