Hawaii

Hawaii is a collection of six tropical islands in the South Pacific, and seems worlds apart from the United States. Hawaii's beaches, climate, and location make it one of the world's top destinations for travel and leisure, and this site will tell you everything you need to know before planning a vacation.

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Overview
Hawaii - the Aloha State – consists of six tropical islands in the South Pacific.

Hawaii is a beautiful visitor destination for people worldwide. The Hawaiian Islands have a wide variety of plant, marine and animal life. Vegetation zones include: coastal, dry land forest, mixed open forest, rain forest, sub alpine and alpine. More than 90 percent of the native plants and animals living in Hawaii are found nowhere else in the world, and a greater variety of fish exist in Hawaiian waters than elsewhere.

Hawaii is sometimes called the Endangered Species Capital of the World. One third of all the species endangered in the United States are found in Hawaii.

The climate is subtropical, with a normal annual temperature of 77°F, making these islands an amazing place to rest and be in peace.

Hawaii's multi-cultural society has had major immigration from:

Polynesia - 700 A.D. United States - 1820 China - 1852 Japan - 1868 Portugal - 1878 Puerto Rico - 1900 Korea - 1903 Philippines - 1906

History
The first Polynesians settled on this island around 500 and 600 AD. Many years later the Tahitians arrived and introduced their customs, religion and a strict social order.

The British Capitan, James Cook arrived around 1778 and named Hawaii the Sandwich Islands in honor to Earl of Sandwich. Around 1820s Yankee ships began to arrive on Hawaiian ports in search of wine and women. The people from the ships started to socialize with the Hawaiian “royalty” and introduced more refined Western social mores.

In the mid-1800s the sugar industry born in Hawaii and the natives’ population was not enough so laborers started recruiting people from China, Japan, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Korea and also from Philippines. The sugar industry grew and the USA became more integral in the affairs of Hawaii. In 1900 Hawaii was established as a territory of the USA.

Hawaii's importance to the USA grew as the US Navy established a huge military base at Pearl Harbor. The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, was the pivotal event that persuaded the USA to enter WWII.

Culture
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.

Hawaii is known as the most racial diverse place in the world, there is no majority because everyone is in a minority.

The climate, culture, and colors are all noticeably different from what one would experience on the rest of the US. Fashion is more laid and life in general slows down considerably.

For Hawaiians family (Ohana) is the most important thing. Most of the parties that locals have are family related.

Events
With its multitude of cultures and permanently good weather, Hawaii always has something to celebrate. Some of the events to look out for include Hawaii's biggest hula competition, the Merrie Monarch Festival (April); Lei Day, an extravaganza of lei-making (May); Aloha Week , a celebration with parades, cultural events, canoe races and Hawaiian music (September); and the Quicksilver/Eddie Aikau Memorial Big Wave Classic, a surf event held when wave heights exceed 6m/20ft (December).

Each spring the children of Hawaii string hundreds of flower lei and, on May Day (May 1), place them on the graves of soldiers at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (Punchbowl).

During the Kamehameha Day holiday and celebration each year (around June 11) the statue of Kamehameha the Great in Honolulu's Capitol District is draped with hundreds of feet of carefully strung lei as a sign of respect and honor for the Hawaiian warrior who, in 1810, united the Hawaiian Islands under one rule.

Traditions

The Hula is a beautiful flowing Hawaiian dance that tells a story. The hula began in ancient Hawaii as a form of worship. The musical instruments were often made of gourds, coconuts, or logs covered with shark-skin membrane.

The hand and leg movement combined with facial expressions and the dance itself tell the story of the hula. The hula survives today through study, competitions, shows, and the dances for the visitors’ enjoyment.

The Luau: Known as the Hawaiian barbecue. It is normally a large party where the main course is Kalua pig - a whole pig steamed in an imu that is an underground oven. You will also find pupus (Hawaiian appetizers), laulaus (meat, normally pork, cooked inside ti leaves), limu (seaweed), lomi-lomi salmon (salmon cooked with tomato and onion), and haupia (coconut and pineapple pudding).

Lei giving: In Hawaii it is customary to give a lei as a gesture of congratulations and aloha (love) to those celebrating a milestone or receiving an honor. It is very common that locals give leis to people that arrives to the islands. Leis are made of tropical flowers or nuts and berries and are worn around the neck.

Crane Making: As a symbol of longevity and good luck, a bride and her wedding party will fold 1,000 tiny golden origami cranes. The cranes are then flattened, mounted, framed and presented at the wedding reception as a good-luck keepsake for the couple.

Origami: The art of origami is widely practiced in Hawaii; and though the crane tradition is of Japanese origin, brides of many ethnicities have adopted it.


Hawaii Islands
There are eight islands that make up the island-state. Of the eight, six are open to visitors: Oahu, Maui, Kauai, Molokai, Lanai, and Hawaii (often referred to as the Big Island).

Oahu: The most popular island is Oahu where you will find the capital of the state, Honolulu. This island is also home to one of the most famous beaches in the world, Waikiki. It is the most populated of all the Hawaiian Islands, created over 4 million years ago.

Besides visiting the tourist locations of Pearl Harbor, one can travel to the far north side of the Island to visit the Dole Pineapple Plantation, to the North Shore for tranquility, gorgeous, big surf waves at Waimea, great shrimp at Kahuku, courtesy of Giovanni’s Shrimp Truck, world-class golf at the Turtle Bay Resort, and all amongst a countryesqe backdrop.

Big Island: It is because of its sheer size of the island that makes the Big Island so special. It boasts at least 13 climatic zones, so one can enjoy the sun, snow, rain and even desert conditions.

Maui: Maui, also called the Valley Isle, is the second largest of the Hawaiian Islands. Central Maui where the majority of Maui’s population lives and it is the center of the business community. West Maui some of the best beaches on the island. Maui is a great place for active people because there are so many places to explore, things to do and things to see. But it’s also great for doing a little snorkeling and kicking back in the sun!

Honolulu, Oahu
Honolulu is the capital of Hawaii, America's 50th state. Located on the island of Oahu, Honolulu is also the largest city in Hawaii and home to around two-thirds of the state's population.

Honolulu is home to Waikiki, Pearl Harbor, the only royal palace in America. From sugar plantations to Don Ho to the television show Lost, the city boasts a remarkable history.

The city is relatively modern, with the problems of much of the rest of the world- traffic, over-development, and noise. Bounded by the mountains in the middle of the island and the ocean around, Honolulu is remarkably warm year-round.

Top Honolulu Attractions:

USS Arizona Memorial Iolani Palace Diamond Head Bishop Museum Waikiki Beach Waikiki Aquarium Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve Pearl Harbor Honolulu Zoo Foster Botanical Gardens

Pearl Harbor
Italy and Germany dictatorships decided to become allies in 1939. They called themselves the Axis Powers. Japan joined the Axis Powers in 1940.

Joseph Stalin, the ruler of Russia at the present time, sided with Hitler until Hitler double crossed him and tried to take over Russia. After the double cross Stalin decided to side with the Allies.

The Allies were the countries that were opposed to the Axis Powers. These countries were Britain, France, the U.S.A., and Russia.

After World War II started Japan grew angry with the U.S.A. because they were helping China by sending them war supplies. Japan didn't like this because China was the main target of Japanese attacks.

As a result of this Japan decided to take a "peace" trip to the US. They made the trip in November of 1941. During this "peace" trip Japan made three proposals to the government. These proposals were, to stop aiding China, to stay out of Asian affairs, and to begin shipping oil to Japan right away or Japan would attack the U.S.A.

President Franklin D. Roosevelt and the government of the United States didn't carry out these proposals.

As a result of this Japan attacked Pearl Harbor on the morning of December 7, 1941 at 7:55 when most of the troops at Pearl Harbor would be asleep.

During this attack exactly ten major command ships were destroyed. The major results off the bombing of Pearl Harbor were the involvement of the United States in World War II. The second major result was the dropping of the Atom Bomb at Hiroshima in Japan.

Harry S. Truman was the president who dropped the bomb on Japan because F. D. Roosevelt died shortly before that happened.

Famous Residents
Hiram Bingham explorer; Jean Erdman dancer and choreographer; Hiram Fong senator; Daniel Inouye senator; Duke Kahanamoku surfer and Olympian swimmer; Bette Midler actress and singer; Kelly Preston actress; Louise Morgan Sill author; Don Stroud actor; Merlin D. Tuttle biologist and wildlife photographer.


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