The State of Hawaii (pronounced /həˈwaɪiː/ or /həˈwaɪʔiː/; Hawaiian: Mokuʻāina o Hawaiʻi) is one of the United States, located on an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of Australia. The state was admitted to the Union on August 21, 1959, making it the 50th state. Its capital is located in its major city, Honolulu on the island of Oahu. The most recent census puts the state's population at 1,211,537.
This state encompasses nearly the entirety of the volcanic Hawaiian Island chain, which is made up of 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" or "Big Isle" to avoid confusion with the state as a whole. This archipelago is physiographically and ethnologically part of the Polynesian subregion of Oceania.
In standard American English, Hawaii is generally pronounced /həˈwaɪiː/. In the Hawaiian language, it is generally pronounced [həˈwəiʔi] or [həˈvəiʔi]. Most residents of Hawaii use the Hawaiian pronunciation (with the glottal stop) in their English.
Contents[hide]
1 Geography
1.1 Location, topography, and geology
1.2 Major islands
1.3 Climate
1.4 Important towns
1.5 Notable features
2 History
2.1 Hawaiian antiquity
2.2 European contact
2.3 Hawaiian kingdom
2.4 Overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy
2.5 Republic of Hawaii
2.6 U.S. Territory
2.7 U.S. Statehood
3 Demographics
3.1 Ethnicities
3.2 Ancestry groups
3.3 Religion
3.4 Languages
3.4.1 Origin of Hawaiian
3.4.2 Revival of Hawaiian
3.4.3 Note on Hawaiian language spellings
3.4.4 "Pidgin"
3.4.5 Debates
4 Education
4.1 Schools and academies
4.2 Colleges and universities
4.3 Problems
5 Economy
5.1 Health care system
6 Law and government
7 Transportation
7.1 By road
7.2 By air
7.3 By ship or ferry
8 Miscellaneous topics
8.1 Etymology
8.2 Media
8.2.1 Newspapers
8.2.2 Television
8.2.3 Film
8.3 Culture
8.4 Sister cities
8.5 Famous people from Hawaii
9 Photo gallery
10 See also
11 References
12 Further reading
13 External links
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Geography
Main article: Hawaiian Islands
Location, topography, and geology
An archipelago situated some 3,200 km (1,988 mi) southwest of the North American mainland,[2] Hawaii is the southernmost state of the United States and the second westernmost state after Alaska. Only Hawaii and Alaska are outside the contiguous United States and do not share a border with any other U.S. state.
Hawaii is the only state of the United States that
is not located in North America
is completely surrounded by water
has a royal palace
does not have a straight line in its state boundary
continuously grows in area (due to currently active lava flows, most notably from Kilauea (Kīlauea).)
Map of Hawaii
Na Pali coast, Kauai
Hawaii's tallest mountain, Mauna Kea stands at 13,796 ft (4,205 m)[3] and is taller than Mount Everest if followed to the base of the mountain—on the floor of the Pacific Ocean.[4]
All of the Hawaiian islands were formed by volcanos erupting from the sea floor from a magma source described in geological theory as a hotspot. The theory maintains that as the tectonic plate beneath much of 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 Big Island, and the Loihi Seamount (Lōʻihi) deep below the waters off its southern coast, are presently active, with Loihi being the newest volcano to form.
The last volcanic eruption outside the Big Island happened at Haleakala (Haleakalā) on Maui in the late 18th century (though recent research suggests that Haleakala's most recent eruptive activity could be hundreds of years older).[5]
The volcanic activity and subsequent erosion created impressive geological features. The Big Island is notable as the world’s fifth highest island.
Because of the islands' volcanic formation, native life before human activity is said to have arrived by the "3 W's": wind (carried through the air), waves (brought by ocean currents), and wings (birds, insects, and whatever they brought with them). 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 tropic, has resulted in a vast array of endemic flora and fauna. Hawaii has more endangered species per square mile and has lost a higher percent of its endemic species than anywhere else on Earth.[citation needed]
A NASA satellite composition of the Hawaiian Islands.
Areas under the control and protection of the National Park Service include:
Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail on the Big Island
Haleakala National Park in Kula
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island
Kalaupapa National Historical Park in Kalaupapa
Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park in Kailua-Kona
Pu'uhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park (Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau) in Honaunau
Puukohola Heiau National Historic Site (Puʻukoholā) in Kawaihae
USS Arizona Memorial at Honolulu
