Hawaii Islands - History And Facts

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The Hawaii islands are the result of underground lava formations that began on the floor of the ocean and built upwards until the magma extended above the depths of the Pacific Ocean. This happened thousands of years ago when the under sea volcanoes erupted until they finally formed a chain of islands. This actually makes them the projecting tops of the biggest mountain range in the world.

With the Hawaii islands beginnings traced back to barren lava growth, it is theorized that plants and animals reached the islands accidentally by way of the wind and water currents, and also by flying birds. When the first human inhabitants arrived from Polynesia in about 500 A.D., plants and animals had already claimed the island.

The Hawaiian archipelago consists of over 130 scattered points of land stretching over 1,600 miles in length. Measured from east to west, Hawaii is the widest state in the United States. There are only eight inhabited Hawaii islands. There are many others that are above the water, but due to their small size and limited natural resources are not inhabitable.

The island of Oahu is home to the state capital Honolulu as well as most tourist attractions. The site for this city was chosen by former ruler King Kamehamea due to the proximity of the natural harbor, now known as Honolulu Harbor. The Big Island is really the largest of the Hawaii islands and while it is technically called Hawaii in atlases, locals refer to it as the Big Island so people don't get confused and think they are talking about the state. Other islands include Kauai, Molokai, Lanai, Kahoolawe, Maui, and Niihau.

Once they became a U.S. territory in the year 1900, the Hawaii islands became an important strategic point for the U.S. military. Unfortunately, in World War II, they became the perfect target for the Japanese when they bombed Pearl Harbor. While still home to U.S. military bases, which provide a large population with civilian job opportunities, it is also home to the monuments for the soldiers who perished in the attack.

The Hawaii islands population has grown enormously, with a sharp increase after Hawaii became a state in 1959. The census in 1910 recorded a population of about 154,000. Since then, inhabitants have increased to over 1.2 million in 2000. The state of Hawaii is the only U.S. state completely surrounded by water and is located about 1,500 miles away from mainland at the west coast of California.

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