About Hawaii

The eight major islands of Hawaii lie some 2,400 from the U.S. Mainland, the most isolated inhabited landfall on earth ---- and that's only part of the story. They are actually part of a chain of volcanoes that reach 3,800 miles from the central to the northern Pacific. On the Island of Hawaii two volcanoes, Mauna Loa and Kilauea, are still active.

Hawaii's de facto population of some 1,250,000 is made up of not only Hawaiian but also Caucasian, Filipino, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Pacific Islander and others, making it the leading state in ethnic diversity. Some 75 percent of them live on the Island of Oahu. All enjoy what is probably the world's finest climate, along with a lovely natural environment and ample recreational opportunities. While the cost-of-living is high, the per capita income is above the national average. Some 6,000,000 visitors arrive each year to sample what has often been called the Paradise of the Pacific.

Hawaii's history is turbulent and colorful, from the days of warring kingdoms through the monarch era (Honolulu has carefully preserved a royal palace) to the advent of Statehood in 1959. Common intermarriage has meant that many of the people are of mixed blood; in recent years there has been a resurgence of Hawaiian pride, recalling the settling of Hawaii in epic Polynesian voyages from Tahiti and the Marquesas about A.D. 300.

Hawaii's former economic mainstays were sugar and pineapple, but today it's tourism. As a Pacific crossroads, the Islands host many international conferences, and continue to serve as a vital bridge between East and West.

Recommended Links

Elite Hawaiian Vacations - We offer Hawaiian vacation rentals, luxury villa accommodations and tourism information for the Big Island, Kauai, Oahu, and Maui.

www.gohawaii.com - "The Official ONLINE GUIDE to the Ultimate Destination" is the official website of the Hawaii Visitors & Convention Bureau.