Hawaii Travel Guide

Hawaii is the newest state of the United States of America and an icon famous around the world. The state is located in the middle of the Pacific Ocean and encompasses an archipelago of hundreds of islands that stretch over 2,400 kilometers. The southern end of the island chain includes the eight most significant islands, Maui, Lānaʻi, Niʻihau, Kauaʻi, Oʻahu, Molokaʻi, Kahoʻolawe and Hawaiʻi or as it is called to avoid confusion, 'the big island'.

All of the islands of Hawaii were formed by tectonic activity creating volcanic hotspots on the sea floor that eventually forced their way to the surface creating the spectacular towering mountain formations and rich fertile lands of today.

Hawaii was first populated by the Polynesian people before 300 BC. In the following years the population grew slowly and steadily with local chiefs dominating the separate islands until first contact with the western world in 1778. Captain Cook was entranced by the Hawaiian islands and documented them in detail. During his second visit in 1779 he was killed during an altercation with locals. With the books about Captain Cooks visit to the island becoming well known the island started receiving a steady stream of European visitors. This brought about some very serious problems for the locals with the population being exposed to smallpox, measles and influenza which caused many deaths a sharp drop in the population.

Through a series of complex revolutions and annexations Hawaii finally became a state of the USA in 1959. Today Hawaii has a population of around 1.2 million with the predominant industries being sugar production and tourism.

For tourists hawaii has literally something for everyone. Six of the eight main islands are open to tourism that ensures a stunning range of activities and destinations to enjoy. Every island has similar attractions but some stand-out examples include the rainforest hiking trails close to Waikiki Beach in Oahu Island, Waimea Canyon on Kauai and the exceptional Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on the 'Big Island' of Hawaii. It almost goes without saying that there is a tremendous range of accommodation options close to the many beaches where fortunate visitors can swim, snorkel dive and surf to their heart's content.

A great way to see the islands is by helicopter flights that allow visitors to see the untouched and inaccessible parts of islands where towering vertical cliffs plummet into the depths of the pacific crowned by misty jungle mountain ranges, waterfalls and rivers.

Hawaii is a standout tourist destination famous the world round for very good reason.