Information about Hawaii

Described by Mark Twain as "the loveliest fleet of islands that lies anchored in any ocean", "Hawai'i is a string of 137 islands with a large land area of 6,422.6 sq miles in the Pacific Ocean, about 2,400 miles from the west coast of the continental United States". Hawai'i's climate features mild temperatures, moderate humidity and cooling trade winds.

Discovered by Polynesian settlers between the 3rd and 7th centuries A.D. and later by British Captain James Cook in 1778, Hawai'i is the most isolated population center on earth. From east to west, Hawai'i is the widest state in the United States.

Hawai'i has eight main islands: Ni'ihau, Kaua'i, O'ahu, Maui, Moloka'i, Lana'i, Kaho'olawe, and the "Big Island" of Hawai'i. These islands are divided into four counties: Kauai, Honolulu, Maui, and Hawaii.

The Hawaiian Islands are the projecting tops of the biggest mountain range in the world. The island of Hawai'i is the largest island and was formed by volcanoes. The Beautiful Volcanoes, Kilauea (4,090 ft. high) and Mauna Loa (13, 677 ft. high) are still active. Mauna Loa is largest volcanic mountain in the world.

Being the southernmost state in the United States, Hawai'i is a land of enchantment. The state was admitted to the Union on August 20th, 1959. Unlike other states which only have one state flower, Hawaii has a flower for each set of islands:
Niihau is represented by the Pupu shell, Kauai is shown with Mokihana, Oahu is graced with Ilima, Maui loves to show off Lokelani, Lanai proudly carts around Kaunaoa, Kahoolawe flies the Hinahina, and the big island of Hawaii proudly shows the Lehua Ohia.

Hawai'i has the pleasure of its own time zone, Hawaiian Standard time. This time zone is not affected by daylight savings time and is two hours behind Pacific standard.