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All About Hawaii
Hawaii is a constituent state of the United States of America, consisting of a group of volcanic islands in the central Pacific Ocean. The islands have an area of 6,459 square miles (16,729 square kilometres). The capital city of Honolulu, on the island of Oahu, lies 2,397 miles (3,857 kilometres) from San Francisco to the east and 5,293 miles (8,516 kilometres) from Manila, in the Philippines, to the west.
Hawaii was characterized by Mark Twain as ''the loveliest fleet of islands that lies anchored in any ocean.'' The name is thought to derive from Hawaiki, the former name of Raiatea, one of the Society Islands, from which Polynesians sailed in voyaging canoes to settle after AD 1000. On Aug. 21, 1959, they became the 50th U.S. state. Hawaii is economically vigorous, with diversified agriculture and manufacturing; strategically important to the global defense system of the United States; a Pacific Basin transportation and cultural centre, often called the Crossroads of the Pacific; and a major tourist mecca. Hawaiian activities of national and international importance include research and development in oceanography, geophysics, astronomy, satellite communications, and biomedicine.
The land area of the state of Hawaii consists of the tops of a chain of emerged volcanic mountains that form eight major islands and 124 islets, stretching in a 1,500-mile crescent from Kure Island in the west to the island of Hawaii in the east, with a combined land area of 6,471 square miles (16,759 square kilometres). With the exception of Midway, a U.S. naval reservation near the western end of the archipelago, the leeward coral atolls and central lava islets - forming a total of only 3 1/4 square miles - are in the Hawaiian Islands National Wildlife Refuge. The eight major islands at the eastern end of the chain are, from west to east, Niihau, Kauai, Oahu, Molokai, Lanai, Kahoolawe, Maui, and Hawaii. Volcanic activity has become dormant, with the exception of the volcanoes of Mauna Loa and Kilauea on the easternmost and largest island, Hawaii, where spectacular eruptions and lava flows take place from time to time. The highest Hawaiian mountains are Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa, reaching 13,796 feet (4,205 metres) and 13,678 feet (4,169 metres) above sea level, respectively.
Heavy rainfall in mountainous areas produces an extremely voluminous runoff, which is responsible for the erosion that forms the numerous grooves, ridges, and V-shaped valleys characteristic of the older volcanic islands such as Kauai and Oahu. The action of rain combined with waves has had a particularly dramatic effect on the more exposed windward sections of the islands. The powerful Pacific surf, churning and crashing against the fringing coral shelves and the lava shorelines, has carried minute shells onto the shore and reduced coral and large shells to sand, creating the state's famous expanses of beach.
Hawaii ranks relatively low among the states in terms of personal income, farm products sold, value of manufacturing shipments, retail sales, and bank deposits. A major problem in Hawaii is the high cost of living, due in large part to Hawaii's insularity and dependence on imports. Transportation costs are included in the prices of nearly all consumer goods. As the population increases, housing grows increasingly difficult to acquire, and it is expensive when compared with housing costs in many of the mainland states. Building materials, most of which are imported, are expensive. Residential land is limited and highly priced, since much of the property, notably on Oahu, is owned by corporations and trusts. More than half the land in the state is owned by private individuals or corporations, although the state itself, holding more than one-third of the land, is the largest single landowner. State and county governments are major employers. Honolulu is the regional headquarters of the federal government, which owns one-sixth of the land.
Tourism is Hawaii's largest industry. Expansion has been particularly rapid since World War II, and the growth has resulted in part from continued improvements in transportation and the stimulus provided by the state government and local businesses. The majority of visitors come from the U.S. mainland, Canada, Australia, and countries of the Far East, particularly Japan. About 60 percent of the hotel units are on Oahu, chiefly in Waikiki and the adjacent Ala Moana area. Visitors have access to a wide range of recreational and cultural facilities, such as golf courses, tennis courts, parks, surfing sites, beaches, restaurants, theatres, musical attractions, and sporting events. Tourism has helped Hawaii to become the centre of the international market of the Pacific Basin. Capital investment by U.S. mainland and foreign companies has increased tremendously.
Ocean-surface transportation is Hawaii's lifeline, and Honolulu Harbor, with its extensive docks, warehouses, and storage sheds, is the centre of Hawaiian shipping. A large percentage of the cargo ships ply between Hawaii and California ports, a few between Hawaii and the East Coast of the United States via the Panama Canal, and others from western Pacific ports. Around-the-world passenger ships carry visitors through Honolulu, and there is an interisland luxury cruise line. The majority of voyagers to and from Hawaii travel by air, as do nearly all interisland passengers. The Honolulu International Airport, on Oahu; General Lyman Field at Hilo, on Hawaii; and the Kahului Airport, on Maui, are the major civilian airports capable of serving large-jet traffic. There are several smaller airports among the islands and a number of small private airfields. Military authorities maintain a number of airports throughout the state.
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Hawaii Lodging News
Voting Question: Is it fair that my sister ruins the whole family vacation?
We were going o Hawaii, but to do to many issues we decided to go next summer. So we decided to go to a resort. I chose Great Wolf Lodge.
But my sister gets involved in every program at her school. So she has a really tight schedule. and she said "No we are not going I don't even swim" my mom was looking forward to it and was about to take 3 days off from work. And my dad has been busy so we wanted to do something
What can I tell my sister?
She can stay home because we have our grandparents but i doubt my mom will let her.
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Voting Question: Have you been to the Great Wolf Lodge? Is it only for kids?
if you are a teen or adult did you enjoy it?
we were going to go hawaii but we decided to just go to a local resort and go to hawaii next spring or summer.
the water park looks cool, my mom can enjoy the spa (she REALLY likes spas) and its only an hour and 20 minutes from our house. We are going to the one in Washinton. My dad said okay. the only problem is my 17 year old sister said shes not going because its just a hotel with a waterslide. All I need to do is convince her or get her somehow to go then we are going.
and please share your experience with me and how many days you stayed.
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Resolved Question: Is The Great Wolf Lodge Resort only for kids?
if you are a teen or adult did you enjoy it?
we were going to go hawaii but we decided to just go to a local resort and go to hawaii next spring or summer.
the water park looks cool, my mom can enjoy the spa (she REALLY likes spas) and its only an hour and 20 minutes from our house. We are going to the one in Washinton. My dad said okay. the only problem is my 17 year old sister said shes not going because its just a hotel with a waterslide. All I need to do is convince her or get her somehow to go then we are going.
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Resolved Question: Whats the most economical tropical destination?
The husband and I both want to take a much belated honeymoon to somewhere tropical with white sandy beaches etc in about a year (not particular about dates. Any time of the year will be fine.)
The problem is I can't really research trips because I have no idea where the best place to go would be. I'm open to pretty much anywhere, from Hawaii to the Caribbean. We will not be taking children.
Ideally I'd like something inclusive with decent lodging-- Doesn't have to be 4 star, but clean and pest free with food and drinks included would be great, or decent and cheap restaurants nearby. I'd be planning to fly from Phoenix.
Where do the experienced travelers think I will get the most bang for my buck from besides Mexico? (I'd prefer not to go there.)
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Resolved Question: Hawaii.. which islands have waterfalls and freshwater swimming?
I want to go to Hawaii with my girlfriend...What is the best island in your opinion?..Does anybody know about good deals on lodging. And anything else you can share would be greatly appreciated..
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Resolved Question: FIRST PCS MOVE. WE REALLY NEED HELP?
so were moving to Travis Air Force Base in 2 weeks. Im in Hawaii, my husband is in tech school and grads soon and he will fly straight to Travis right after graduation and our son and I will meet him there a day after. No one is helping us out and I have no idea whats to come! we have a car here that needs to be shipped asap! because we need a car when we get there so we can look for a place to stay. I know they give temporary lodging. can they pay for us to rent a car? and do they give us money to help with expenses? we saved up some money for the move but Im not sure if it will be enough to cover everything. I hear they give you money like $1500 everytime you PCS. is that true?? Any advice suggestions would be GREAT! His sponsor isnt much help. He did go to the tmo office over where he is but theyre telling him to talk to his sponsor and his sponosor is telling us to go to the TMO office. so weve been going back and forth and its frustrating. thank you!
we have no furniture to move just our car and ourselves and our suitcases. weve been living with family so we dont have our own stuff. im hearing alot about DITY move. should we do that instead? and how much will we get? i will go to Hickam AFB monday. thank you
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Voting Question: This is going to be our first military move! Help?
My husband is graduating Tech School for the Air Force June 4th. In about 3 weeks :) he has a sponsor who is No help to us at all! He got orders in March to Travis Air Force Base in Fairfield California. We called to put our name on the waiting list a few weeks ago and I just checked online and his name isn't on the list! We tries calling about lodging last week but noone picks up the phone! Were soo lost! We need our car moved there asap (were fro
Hawaii) so it has to be shipped like next week in order for it to get there around the time we do. Transit usually takes 2 weeks. We feel soo lost! He even went to the people there at his school for help about moving and how things are paid for but he said they're no help at all. Where do we stay if there's no housing available when we get there? Does the military pay for a place for us to stay? If we paid to ship our car now will they reimburse our money? and does my husband get time off to look for a house if base housing isn't available? Please help! We have a 2 year old too and Im really worried things aren't gonna fall into place like they say it is.
Thanks everyone :)
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Resolved Question: If I am currently in the Air Force DEP can I stay at an Air Force Inn?
Right now I'm in the DEP and my brother, who's in the NAVY, wants me to go on his Tiger Cruise. I'll fly to Hawaii to meet up with his boat at Pearl Harbor and I need a place to stay in the mean time. Could I use Hickam AFB's Temporary Lodging Facilities (TLF) for a day or so until his boat docks? Or should we see if I can stay at the naval base's TLF's if they have them there? By the way, I don't know if it matters but the name of the Inn is Royal Alaka'i Inn.
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Resolved Question: One night on Oahu with van to airport?
We are treating my Austrian cousins to a vacation in Hawaii this summer. They will be taking an around-the-world flight, meaning they will fly west from Austria to Hawaii and then west to Tokyo and back to Austria. We will all be flying from Kona to Honolulu the morning of our last day, and my husband and I will be returning to California. My cousin and his wife will need to stay until the next morning to catch an early flight to Tokyo. I need to get them a reservation at a hotel/motel that has van service to the airport and a place to eat either at or next to the lodging. It doesn't need to be fancy -- we are spending two weeks at very nice places, so this is just for a convenient way of getting to the airport in the morning without a car.
Please give me your best suggestion!
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Resolved Question: Anyone been to Lanai? (Hawaii)?
I am aware of a great number of good travel review sites etc.. so I have those links already.. but I was curious if anyone here has been to Lanai and would maybe offer up a trip report. I am considering staying at the Four Seasons Lodge Koele since I like brisk evenings in mountain-y air. Plus I could always take the shuttle down to that other Four Seasons on the ocean if I felt like it.
I know its a very small, 'not-much-to-do' island, but the goal is to take about a 4-5 day trip and literally be an absolute pampered bum and chill.
I've already been to Big Island, Oahu, and Kauai on longer trips....
So trip reports.. please?
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