Hawaii

Hawaii is a unique island state within the United States. It is located in the Pacific Ocean, southwest of the U.S. mainland.

Hawaii is the only U.S. state that is an archipelago. An archipelago is a large group of islands. The state consists of 137 volcanic islands.

It is also the only state located in the Oceania region. This makes it geographically distinct from the North American mainland. Hawaii is the southernmost state in the union. It is also the second farthest west, following Alaska.

The islands formed through intense volcanic activity. This process began at an undersea magma source called a hotspot.

A hotspot is a stationary source of heat under the tectonic plate. As the Pacific plate moves northwest, the hotspot creates new volcanoes. This movement slowly builds new land over time. All active land volcanoes are located on the southern half of Hawaiʻi Island. The newest volcano is named Kamaʻehuakanaloa. It sits south of the coast of Hawaiʻi Island. Volcanic eruptions can be very powerful and dangerous. In 1790, an explosion at Kīlauea killed many people. In 2018, an eruption at Kīlauea destroyed at least 36 buildings.

There are eight main islands in the Hawaiian archipelago. These islands are Niʻihau, Kauaʻi, Oʻahu, Molokaʻi, Lānaʻi, Kahoʻolawe, Maui, and Hawaiʻi. The island of Hawaiʻi is often called the "Big Island."

Mauna Kea is the highest mountain in the state. While it is very tall above sea level, it is even taller from the ocean floor. When measured from its base, it is taller than Mount Everest. The islands also include many smaller rocks and islets. Some of these, like Molokini, are made of volcanic or marine sedimentary rock. The Northwestern Hawaiian Islands are older and smaller remnants of much larger volcanic mountains.

Human history in Hawaii began with Polynesian settlers. They arrived sometime between 1000 and 1200 CE.

They lived in many independent chiefdoms. In 1778, the British explorer James Cook arrived at the islands. This contact led to many changes for the native population. European and American traders and whalers arrived soon after. Unfortunately, new diseases like smallpox and measles caused the native population to decline. The population fell from as many as one million to less than 40,000 by 1890. Hawaii became a unified kingdom in 1810. This kingdom remained independent until businessmen overthrew the monarchy in 1893. The U.S. annexed Hawaii in 1898 and it became a state in 1959.

Today, Hawaii is a very diverse "melting pot" of cultures. It has a large Asian American plurality and a large Buddhist community.

The state has many residents from different backgrounds due to centuries of migration. Two-thirds of the 1.4 million residents live on Oʻahu. This island contains the capital city, Honolulu.

Hawaii is also a major center for military defense. It hosts the U.S. Pacific Fleet, which is the largest naval command in the world. This brings many employees to the islands. Despite the high cost of living, Hawaii is the third-wealthiest U.S. state. Residents also have the longest life expectancy in the country, at 80.7 years.

The natural environment of Hawaii is incredibly varied. On a single island, the climate can change from dry to wet.

High mountains create tropical rainforests and even alpine conditions. Because the islands are so isolated, many species are endemic. Endemic species are those found nowhere else on Earth. However, Hawaii has many endangered species. Some plants, like the Brighamia, now require humans to help them pollinate. The state also protects much of its natural beauty. The Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument is the largest protected area in the U.S.

This monument protects animals like the Hawaiian monk seal.

Modern Hawaii faces several significant environmental challenges. Climate change is a major concern for the islands. Rising sea levels have caused flooding in Downtown Honolulu. The state also faces increasing droughts and water shortages. Wildfires have become a growing threat as well. At the same time, the human population is changing. Many people are moving to the U.S. mainland. This is known as an exodus. These environmental and social changes affect the tourism economy. Tourism is one of the two largest sectors of the Hawaiian economy. The state must balance its economic needs with the protection of its unique land and culture.