Hawaii Geography: Islands, Climate & Location - A Comprehensive Overview

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Introduction to Geography of Hawaii

Hawaii, a state of the United States. Hawaii is an archipelago of eight principal islands and numerous rocky islets, reefs, and shoals in the North Pacific Ocean. With its predominantly Asian and Polynesian heritage, Hawaii is quite unlike any other state. Its people, however, are much the same in outlook as those on the mainland.

The Hawaiian Islands cut across the Tropic of Cancer and stretch northwest-southeast for more than 1,600 miles (2,600 km). All the islands except Midway, near the chain's western extremity, are part of the state. Hawaii has an area of 10,932 square miles (28,313 km2), including 4,508 square miles (11,676 km2) of water. It is the 43rd largest state.

Like Alaska, Hawaii is widely separated from the rest of the United States. Honolulu, the capital and largest city, for example, lies about 2,400 miles (3,900 km) southwest of San Francisco, California, and 2,700 miles (4,300 km) south of Seward, Alaska.

Hawaii's state bird is the nene (Hawaiian goose).Hawaii in briefGeneral informationStatehood: Aug. 21, 1959, the 50th state.State abbreviation: HI (postal).State capital: Honolulu, the capital of Hawaii since it became a state in 1959.State motto: Ua Mau ke Ea o ka Aina i ka Pono (The Life of the Land Is Perpetuated in Righteousness).Popular name: The Aloha State.State song: "Hawaii Ponoi" ("Hawaii's Own"), words by King Kalakaua; music by Henry Berger.Symbols of HawaiiState bird: Nene (Hawaiian goose).State flower: Yellow hibiscus.State tree: Kukui.State flag and seal: Hawaii's state flag, adopted in 1959, has eight horizontal stripes of alternating red, white, and blue that represent the eight major islands of Hawaii. In the upper left corner is the flag of the United Kingdom. The state seal, adopted in 1959, bears, in Hawaiian, the state motto, which translates: "The life of the lands is perpetuated in righteousness." The state coat of arms is in the center, with a figure of King Kamehameha I to the left and the Goddess of Liberty to the right.Land and climateArea: 6,459 mi2 (16,729 km2) including 36 mi2 (93 km2) of inland water.Elevation: Highest--Mauna Kea, 13,796 ft (4,205 m) above sea level. Lowest--sea level along coast.Coastline: 750 mi (1,207 km).Record high temperature: 100 degrees F (38 degrees C) at Pahala on April 27, 1931.Record low temperature: 12 degrees F (–11 degrees C) at Mauna Kea on May 17, 1979.Average July temperature: 75 degrees F (24 degrees C).Average January temperature: 68 degrees F (20 degrees C).Average yearly precipitation: 110 in (279 cm).PeoplePopulation: 1,211,537.Rank among the states: 42nd.Density: 188 persons per mi2 (72 per km2), U.S. average 78 per mi2 (30 per km2).Distribution: 91 percent urban, 9 percent rural.Largest cities in Hawaii: Honolulu (371,657); Hilo (40,759); Kailua (36,513); Kaneohe (34,970); Waipahu (33,108); Pearl City (30,976).EconomyChief productsAgriculture: flowers, macadamia nuts, pineapples, sugar cane.Manufacturing: concrete products, food products, petroleum products, printed materials.Fishing industry: bigeye tuna, yellowfin tuna.GovernmentState governmentGovernor: 4-year term.State senators: 25; 4-year terms.State representatives: 51; 2-year terms.Counties: 5.Federal governmentUnited States senators: 2.United States representatives: 2.Electoral votes: 4.Sources of informationFor information about tourism, write to: Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau, 2270 Kalakaua Avenue, Suite 801, Honolulu, HI 96815. The Web site at http://www.gohawaii.com also provides information.For information on the economy, write to: Hawaii Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism, 250 S. Hotel Street, 4th & 5th Floors, Honolulu, HI 96813.The state's official Web site at http://www.hawaii.gov also provides a gateway to much information on Hawaii's economy, government, and history.

Physical Geography

Hawaii, a chain of islands in the middle of the North Pacific Ocean, is a state of the United States.Land

The Hawaiian Islands are of volcanic origin. They were formed during millions of years by successive eruptions of molten lava from beneath the Pacific Ocean. Considering their height above the ocean floor, roughly 15,000 to 32,000 feet (4,600 to 9,800 m), the Hawaiian Islands rank as one of the highest mountain ranges on earth.

The island of Hawaii, the largest island in the chain, is still growing. The seven other principal islands are older, have stopped growing, and are slowly being eroded away. Older still are the many small islets northwest of Kauai. They were once large volcanic islands, but through erosion they have been reduced to mere specks in the vast Pacific.

Mauna Loa and nearby Kilauea are active volcanoes that frequently erupt. Together they make up Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.

The mammoth dormant crater of Haleakala, on Maui, forms the heart of Haleakala National Park. Two volcanic mountain ranges, Koolau and Waianae, run the length of the island of Oahu. On Hawaii, flows of hardened lava are prominent and widespread. Hawaii, Maui, Oahu. Kauai, and Molokai, the largest and highest islands, are cut on their rainy, northern and eastern sides by canyons, gorges, and deep river valleys. On the islands' leeward sides the land is often dry, barren, and less eroded. Rocky coasts, high wave-cut cliffs, coral reefs, and palm-lined beaches of white, black, and colored sand line the shores.

Hawaii's state tree is the kukui.Interesting facts about HawaiiHaleakala has the world's largest dormant volcanic crater. The crater, on the island of Maui, measures about 20 miles (32 kilometers) around and is about 3,000 feet (914 meters) deep.The southernmost point of the United States is Ka Lae, also called South Point, on the island of Hawaii. Ka Lae means The Point.The Hawaiian alphabet has only 12 letters--a, e, h, i, k, l, m, n, o, p, u, and w.Hawaii was an independent monarchy. Polynesian monarchs ruled the islands from 1795 to 1894, when the islands became a republic. No other U.S. state ever had this form of government.The wettest place on earth is Mount Waialeale, on the island of Kauai. The average annual rainfall on the mountain is 460 inches (1,168 centimeters).Water

The largest rivers descend the northern and eastern slopes of the higher islands. Elsewhere rivers are small—many of them flow only after rains or dry up before reaching the sea. There are no large lakes. Waterfalls are fairly numerous.

Climate

The main islands of Hawaii have a subtropical climate that is influenced by northeast trade winds blowing in from the sea and by elevation. In the high mountains a mild winter occurs. Hawaii's climate is known for an abundance of sunshine. Few severe storms occur.

Average temperatures at sea level range from about 70° F. (21° C.) during the coolest month (January) to 77° F. (25° C.) during the warmest (August). Honolulu has an annual average of 77° F. (25° C.). Its highest recorded temperature is 94° F. (34° C.); its lowest, 56° F. (13° C.). The tops of Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa are usually mantled with snow.

Rainfall varies enormously. Northern and eastern mountain slopes block the trade winds and are extremely wet, while leeward slopes are dry. Waialeale peak, on Kauai, has an average of about 470 inches (11,940 mm) a year, making it the wettest place on earth. Some areas receive as little as 8 inches (200 mm) a year.

VegetationHawaii's state flower is the yellow hibiscus.

Because of varying topography and climatic conditions, Hawaii's vegetation is diverse. It ranges from verdant rain forests of tropical trees, ferns, and flowering plants to desert grass and cactus. Some of the plants are native and found nowhere else on earth. Most, however, have been introduced from other parts of the world. Palms, orchids, and hibiscus are among the state's most characteristic plants.

Economy

The tourist industry and government are the mainstays of Hawaii's economy. Agriculture, at one time the leader of the economy, has undergone a significant relative decline. More than half of all nonagricultural employment is in the service industries and wholesale and retail trade. Manufacturing, construction, finance, insurance, and real estate are also significant parts of the economy.

Tourism

Hawaii's mild climate and natural beauty attract about six million tourists a year. Oahu is the island most visited: Honolulu and the resort district of Waikiki, Pearl Harbor, and the Polynesian Cultural Center attract most of the visitors. Maui, Molokai, Kauai, Lanai, and Hawaii contain resorts and other tourist facilities that are also popular. Virtually no tourists visit the islands of Niihau and Kahoolawe. Niihau is privately owned by a family operating a cattle-and-sheep ranch. Kahoolawe is uninhabited and is used as a military firing range.

Government

Hawaii occupies a strategic location in the North Pacific Ocean, and national defense plays a major role in the economy of the state. Military installations are numerous; most are on the island of Oahu, primarily in the Pearl Harbor area, just west of Honolulu. In addition to the military personnel stationed in Hawaii, there are large numbers of civilian government workers; more than one-fifth of the state's civilian labor force is employed by federal, state, and local government.

Agriculture

was Hawaii's leading economic activity from the 19th century until about the time of World War II. Nearly half of the state is in farms, ranches, and plantations, but much of this land is used only for grazing or is too dry to be productive. Crops are grown on only about 8 per cent of the land and account for roughly 80 per cent of the state's farm income. Sugarcane is overwhelmingly the chief commercial crop; pineapples rank second. Both are grown on large, mechanized plantations.

Other commercial crops include coffee, macadamia nuts, and cut flowers and nursery plants. Many fruits and vegetables are grown on small farms for local consumption. Beef cattle, raised mainly on large ranches, and milk, eggs, hogs, and broilers are also produced.

Manufacturing

is a relatively small industry in Hawaii, mainly because of the islands' remote location, lack of industrial resources, and rather small local market. Only in the Honolulu area is there substantial employment in manufacturing.

The processing of agricultural products has long been Hawaii's chief manufacturing activity. It consists primarily of processing sugarcane and pineapples, meats, and dairy products. Also significant is the making of clothing, primarily women's clothing; petroleum products; and fabricated metal items. Printing and the building and repairing of ships and boats are also important economic activities.

Transportation

Airplanes and ships provide transportation between the islands of Hawaii, to and from the United States mainland, and abroad. Virtually all passenger transit is by air. Honolulu International is the busiest of nearly a dozen commercial airports. Port facilities at Honolulu handle the bulk of the state's waterborne commerce.

Motor vehicles provide nearly all land transportation on the islands. The highway system consists mostly of paved roads, primarily on the islands of Hawaii, Oahu, Maui, and Kauai. The only railroad is a six-mile (10-km) tourist line on Maui.

The People

The people are largely native-born and highly mixed in racial and national descent. In 2000 nearly 42 per cent were of Asian ancestry, especially Japanese, but also Filipino, Chinese, and Korean. Slightly less than one-quarter were white. Native Hawaiians made up 6.6 per cent of the population. The rest were of mixed ancestry. People of Hispanic origin, especially Puerto Rican, made up 7.2 per cent of the population.

Hawaii is the only state to have two official languages, English and Hawaiian. Hawaiian is a Polynesian language. About one-third of the people are Protestants; one-third, Roman Catholics; and the remainder, Buddhists, Jews, or followers of Hawaiian traditional religions.

Annual events in HawaiiJanuary-MarchHula Bowl college all-star football game on Maui (January); Narcissus Festival in Honolulu (January); NFL Pro Bowl (February); Cherry Blossom Heritage Festival on Hawaii Island (February).April-JuneMerrie Monarch Festival in Hilo (April); Lei Day, statewide (May 1); Kauai World Challenge/Annual OC1, OC2, and Surfski Relay Race (May); 50th State Fair on Oahu (May-June); Miss Hawaii Scholarship Pageant in Honolulu (June); King Kamehameha celebration, statewide (June).July-SeptemberMakawao Rodeo on Maui (July); Japanese Bon Dances at Buddhist centers (weekends during July and August); Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament on Hawaii Island (August); Keiki Hula Festival in Honolulu (August); Macadamia Nut Harvest Festival on Hawaii (August); Hawaii County Fair in Hilo (September).October-DecemberOrchid Plant and Flower Show in Honolulu (October); Kona Coffee Festival on Hawaii Island (November); Hawaiian Pro Surfing on the North Shore of Oahu (November or December); Honolulu Marathon in Honolulu (December).

Education

Hawaii is the only state with a single, unified public school system, with administration being centralized in the state department of education. An elected state board of education sets policy and appoints the superintendent of public instruction, who heads the department of education. Hawaii's compulsory attendance law requires children 6 to 18 years old to attend school.

Hawaii's first schools were established by Christian missionaries in the 1820's to teach adults reading and writing. Schools for children soon followed. A public school system was established in the 1840's.

The University of Hawaii, a land-grant institution, was opened in 1908. The main campus is at Manoa in Honolulu. Also part of the University of Hawaii system are a branch at Hilo, the West Oahu branch at Pearl City, and several community colleges—Hawaii, Honolulu, Kapiolani, Kauai, Leeward, Maui, and Windward. The university operates Mauna Kea Observatory, the highest astronomical observatory in the world.

Government

Hawaii's State Capitol is in Honolulu, the capital since Hawaii become a state in 1959.

Hawaii is governed under its original constitution, which was adopted in 1950 while Hawaii was still a territory. It became effective when statehood was achieved in 1959 and was amended by a constitutional convention in 1968.

The executive branch is headed by a governor elected to a four-year term. The lieutenant governor is also elected for four years. The legislature consists of a Senate of 25 members and a House of Representatives of 51 members. State senators are elected for four years, representatives for two years. The judiciary is headed by a five-member Supreme Court; judges are appointed by the governor with the approval of the Senate.

Hawaii sends two senators and two representatives to the U.S. Congress.

The state has no incorporated cities or towns. Local government is administered by four of Hawaii's five counties—the counties of Hawaii, Kauai, and Maui, and the City and County of Honolulu. Kalawao, a settlement on Molokai for persons with Hansen's disease, is called a county but is administered by the state department of health.

Governors of HawaiiNamePartyTermWilliam F. Quinn Republican1959-1962John A. Burns Democratic1962-1974George R. Ariyoshi Democratic1974-1986John Waihee Democratic1986-1994Ben Cayetano Democratic1994-2002Linda Lingle Republican2002-