About Hawaii

Hawaii became part of the United States on August 21st, 1959 as the 50th state of the Union. It is the only state that is not part of the continental United States, and consists of eight main islands: Hawaii, also known as the Big Island, Kahoolawe, Kauai, Lanai, Maui, Molokai, Niihau, and Oahu. Like many other states, Hawaii's status depended upon political power and influence. Hawaii's monarchy dates back to the 19th century, long before western civilization intervened and changed its governing operations. Formerly a republic, the Hawaiian Islands eventually became annexed as the Territory of Hawaii in 1898. Its territorial status remained as such for over sixty years, and then in 1959 it became known as the State of Hawaii, the youngest state in the Union and also the only state to be separated by such a large expanse (2000 miles) of the Pacific Ocean.

Hawaii's capital is Honolulu, located on the island of Oahu. In terms of land mass area, the islands have a combined total of 6423 square miles. Hawaii's chief exports are sugarcane, pineapple, coffee, and macadamia nuts. Hawaii is also one of the chief tourist attractions in the United States. Also known as the Aloha Sate, Hawaii's official flower is the yellow hibiscus, the state tree is the candlenut (kukui), and the Hawaiian goose, or Nene, is the official state bird. As of 2010, Hawaii's population totaled 1,360,301people, and fairly diverse in nationalities as well. The Filipino, Japanese, and Polynesian peoples are at the top of the list that includes over fifteen nationalities. Many different languages are spoken there, yet Hawaiian and English stand as the two official languages. An offshoot of the Hawaiian native tongue is Creole Pidgin, which is dialectic and used in regional vernacular. Like most multicultural societies, a number of migratory languages enter the forum of communication.

Hawaii is noted worldwide for its tropical climate, where the temperatures tend to lean towards the warmer side, with little variation between high and low temperatures. Hawaii has two seasons: the wet season occurs between October and April, and the dry season takes place from May to September. Educational institutions in the region pale in comparison to the continental US. The University of Hawaii is subdivided into three different locations. The research college is located in Manoa, while the two other comprehensive sectors are located in West Oahu and Hilo. Private institutions include Hawaii Pacific University, Brigham Young University of Hawaii, the Chaminade University of Honolulu, and the Wayland Baptist University.

Written by Lyndsey Morgan