Hawaii – Luaus Pineapples And Beaches (From The United States Series)
History:
Between 500BC and 300BC Polynesians from the Marquesas Islands in the southern Pacific Ocean are considered to be the earliest inhabitants of Hawaii and developed High Chiefs, the ancient Kapu legal system, human sacrifice, and heiau temples.
In 1778 British Explorer James Cook, recognized as the first European settler in Hawaii, named them the Sandwich Islands.
The Kingdom of Hawaii was independent with diplomatic International recognition from 1810 to 1898 when annexed by the United States, and did not become the 50th State until August 21, 1959, after President Dwight Eisenhower signed the Hawaii Admission Act.
The sneak attack by the Japanese on December 7, 1941, at Pearl Harbor, drew the United States into World War Two.
Eight Islands:
Hawaii’s eight main islands are Hawaii, known as the Big Island, Maui, the second largest Hawaiian island, Kahoolawe, the smallest island of the group, Lanai, known as the Pineapple island because it was once a pineapple plantation, Mlokai, the 27th largest island in the United States, Oahu, known as “The Gathering Status,” and home of Hawaii’s capital city of Honolulu, Kauai, the oldest of Hawaii’s main islands, and Niihau, known as the “Forbidden Island,” the smallest inhabited island in Hawaii.
Natural Features:
Located 2000 miles southwest of the Continental United States, and comprising most of the volcanic Hawaiian Islands Chain of about 130 islands, the Hawaiian Archipelago is completely surrounded by water and does not share any geographical boundaries. Other natural features of Hawaii include Mauna Kea Mountain, standing at an elevation of 13,796 feet, making it the State’s tallest, the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, nine small islands northwest of Kauai, all which are remnants of volcanic mountains, one hundred volcanic, erosional, or marine sedimentary islets, and the small island of Kaala reach Niihau that is most frequently overlooked. The southernmost State is also an extremely favorite worldwide tourist destination because of its beaches, Attractions, tropical climate, natural beauty, and more endangered species than any other American State.
National Parks:
Hawaii has two National Parks, the Haleakala National Park and Wilderness Area, and the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Hawaii also has three National Historical Parks, the Kalaupapa National Historical Park, the Kaloko-Honokohau National Historic Park, and the Puuhonua o Honaunau National Historic Park. Hawaii has National Park Services Sites at the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument and its approximately 140,000 square miles, located fifty miles offshore in the Pacific Ocean, making it larger than all American National Parks combined, the Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail, and at the USS Arizona Memorial in Pearl Harbor.
Haleakala National Park:
Containing a name meaning “House of the Sun,” and located in Maui with the dormant Haleakala volcano, the Haleakala National Park is divided into the summit area and the coastal area, and has about one and a half million visitors a year. The Park includes the famous 2000-foot deep Haleakala Crater with two large cinder cones, Oheo Gulch, Hosmer Grove, Himalayan deordar, Japanese sugi, and eucalyptus trees, the Kipahulu Valley, more than two dozen pools of rare freshwater fish, and Waimoku Falls.
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park:
Established in 1916 on the Big Island, the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, including Mauna Loa, the largest shield volcano on the Earth in terms of volume and site covered, and Kilauea, one of the most active, and the most recently created volcano in the Hawaiian Archipelago, is an International Biosphere Reserve, and the result of many hundreds of thousands of years of volcanic eruptions, complex ecosystems, and unique Ancient Hawaiian cultures. Other National Register of Historic Places in the Park include fossilized footprints from a series of 1790 battles faught in the area, the World War Two refuge Ainahou Ranch, the Ainapo Trail to the summit of Mauna Loa, the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, and the hotels that have been built on the edge of the volcano.
Kalaupapa National Historical Park:
Located on the island of Malokai, as a forced isolation site between 1866 and 1969, the Kalaupapa National Historic Park preserves the Kalaupapa and Kalawao Leprosy Colonies and contains 2000-foot tall sea cliffs, valleys, rain forests, lava tubes, caves, coral reefs, and Native habitat for endangered species including Monk Seals.
Koloko-Honokohau National Historic Park:
Located on the Kona coast on the Big Island, the Koloko-Honokohau National Historic Park contains the Kaloko settlement and ancient fishponds, the Aimakapa Fish Pond and Wetland Area on the National Register of Historic Places, Honokohau’s mature settlement, the Mamalohoa Trail, the Ala Kahakai National Historic Dash, and the Honokohau harbor.
Puuhonua o Honaunau National Historic Park:
Originally created as the City of Refuge National Historic Park, and located on the west glide of the Big Island, the home of many generations of powerful Chiefs preserves the location where Native Hawaiians who broke one of the Archaic Kapu laws could avoid certain death, and contains temple platforms, archaeological sites, coastal villages, fishponds, and a rebuilt Haleakea Temple where Hawaiian Royalty was entombed until 1818.
Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument:
Established as the ninety-sixth United States National Monument, the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument supports more than 7000 species, one-forth of which are unique to the region, including the Hawaiian Monk Seal, the Laysan Finch, the Nihoa Finch, the Laysan Duck, the Nihoa Millerbird, the Laysan Albatross, and Green Sea Turtles. The Monument, originally known as the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Marine National Monument, also includes the Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge, the Battle of Midway National Memorial, the Kene Atoll Seabird Sanctuary, the Hawaiian Islands National Wildlife Refuge, and the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands State Marine Refuge.
Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail:
The 175-mile long Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail, featuring a living spirital temple known as the Mookini Heiau, one of the oldest historical sites in Hawaii, begins in the Kahala District at Upolu Point, the northernmost point on the Big Island, and is located along the coastline over ancient fishing trails, from mountaintops to the shore, providing access to many beaches and resorts, and the Ala Loa section of the Trail runs from Kiholo Bay to Puako, by the Fairmont Orchid, ending in the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on the west side of the Big Island.
Diamond Head:
The home of the Biannual Transpacific Yacht Race from Point Fermin San Pedro, near Los Angeles, California, offers a three-quarter mile hike to the crater’s rim edge, on mostly unpaved bolt over uneven rocks, down seventy-four steps, through a tunnel, up another ninety-nine steps, through another tunnel to a spiral staircase inside a coastal artillery observation platform from Fort Ruger, the first United States military fort in Hawaii, and overlooks the Pacific Ocean and Waikiki Beach as part of the Honolulu Volcano series of eruptions from the Koolau volcano, Diamon Head is a volcanic tuff cone on Oahu with a ridgeline shaped like a tuna’s dorsal fin. Other wellknown Oahu landmarks that were created by volcanic activities include Manana Island, which is also known as Rabbit Island, Punchbowl Crater, Koko Crater, Koko Head, and Hanauma Bay.
Name:
Hawaii’s name comes from the Proto-Polynesian Sawaiki language and means “Homeland,” or “Ancestrial Home,” however, in Hawaii the name may have no meaning at all.
Climate:
The last volcanic eruption in Hawaii outside of the Big Island occurred at Haleakala, that forms about three-quarters of the island of Maui. The 1790 explosion at Kilauea was the Modern Era’s deadliest volcanic eruption in the United States. Volcanic activities in the islands have created famous tsunamies and earthquakes like those in 1868 and 1975. Snow falls on Mount Mauna Kea and Mount Mauna Loa. Mount Waialeale on Kauai records the second highest amount of rainfall on Earth averaging about 460 inches annually. In terms of the forty that are known to have touched down since 1950 Hawaii is the 48th most active State for tornadoes. Hawaii has also experienced 37 Tropical Cyclones since 1949 including Hurricanes Daniel, Darby, Kenneth, Dora, Eugene, Orlene, Gilma, Diana, Gwen, Connie, Hiki, Kanoa, and others.
Industries:
Major important Hawaiian industries have included sandalwood for essential oils, sugarcane, pineapples, coffee, livestock, macadamia nuts, and tourism.
Attractions:
Hawaii is the home of many cultural events and famous Attractions including luaus, hula dancing, Polynesian music, the annual Merrie Monarch Festival, the Hawaii International Film Festival, the Kula Botanical Gardens, the Maui Enchanting Floral Gardens, the Koko Head Peninsula, the Lyman House Memorial Museum, the Iao Needle Monolithe, the Kalaupapa Lookout, the Polynesian Cultural Center, the National Tropical Botanical Gardens, the Kauai Museum, the Sea Life Park, Shipwreck Beach, the Diamond Head Crater, the Wailua Falls, the Waimea Canyon, the Waipio Valley, often described as being “Shangri La,” the Paper Airplane Museum, the World’s Largest Hedge Maze, and more.
Beaches:
Many Hawaiian beaches fill golden brown sand, large lava rocks, blue-green waters, and colorful fish. Some of the most popular beaches in the State include Kailua Beach, with Koolau Mountain in the background, regarded as Hawaii’s best beach, Lanikai Beach with bird sanctuaries, fine white sand, and an offshore reef, Hapuna Beach located in a protected bay and cited as one of the best beaches in the United States, Tunnels Beach, one of Kauai’s best snorkeling locations, Sunset Beach with excellent surfing, Waikiki Beach a very popular tourist destination, Kamaole Beach and small dunes, Mauna Kea Beach north of Hupuna with soft sand, Poipu Beach that is split between two shrimp bays and occupied by monk seals, and Napili Beach, a buzy popular childrens beach.
Honolulu:
With a name meaning “place of shelter,” or “sheltered bay,” Honolulu, the only Incorporated city in Hawaii, is located on the southeastern shore of Oahu.
The area known as the “Crossroads of the Pacific” was originally settled by Polynesians in the 12th Century, and Kamehameha established the Kingdon of Hawaii in 1810 after the Battle of Nuuana.
Popular Attractions in Honolulu include the Lolani Palace, the only royal palace archaic as an official residence by reigning monarchs in the history of the United States, the historic Aliiolani Hale, the home of the Supreme Court of Hawaii, and one of the most photographed buildings in the State, Manoa Valley, the Aloha Tower, the First Hawaiian Center, the State’s tallest building at an elevation of 438 feet, the Arts District Honolulu, Chinatown, the 600 acre Kakaako Light Industrial District, Waikiki Beach, the Ala Moana Center, the world’s largest open-air shopping center, the National Memorial Cemetary of the Pacific, Punchbowl Crater, Koko Head, Diamond Head, the Contemporary Museum, the Hawaii State Art Museum, the Bishop Museum of History, the Honolulu Zoo, the Waikiki Aquarium, the Liliuokalani Botanical Gardens, the Lyon Arboretum, the USS Arizona Memorial, and the world famous surf of the North Shore.
Hilo:
Overlooking Hilo Bay, with a name meaning “high mountaintop,” Hilo is located on the eastern side of the Immense Island near two shield volcanoes, Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea.
Sugar plantations, and a stop on the newly built Hawaii Belt Road, after a tsunami created by a 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck Hilo on April 1, 1946, made Hilo a major trading center. Hilo was also struck on May 23, 1960 by a tsunami caused by a 9.5 magnitude earthquake off the Chilean coast.
Averaging approximately 128 inches of rainfall a year Hilo is the wettest city in the United States.
Popular Attractions in Hilo include the week long Merrie Monarch Arts Festival, the Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut Corporation, the Hilo Art Museum, the Lyman Museum, the East Hawaii Cultural Center, the Pacific Tsunami Museum, Banyan Drive, known as the “Hilo Plod of Fame,” the Hilo Tropical Gardens, Coconut Island, the Imiloa Astronomy Center and Planetarium of Hawaii, the Liliuokalani Park and Gardens, the largest Japanese Gardens outside of Japan, the Kalakaua Park and Town Square, the Mokupapapa Discovery Center, the Panaewa Rainforest Zoo, the Nani Mau Gardens, the Wailoa River State Recreation Situation, and the Rainbow Falls State Park.
Kailua:
Located in the North Kona District of the Big Island on the southern slope of the Hualalai volcano, and the center of the tourist industry for West Hawaii, Kailu was the original capital city of the Kingdom of Hawaii.
A world famous windsurfing space, Kailu was named America’s Best Beach For 1998, and is the host of the Annual Ironman World Championship Triathlon and the Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament.
Popular Attractions in Kailu include the Kamakahonu Royal Residence, the Ahuena Heiau, the Hulihee Palace and Museum, La aloa Bay, known as the “magic sands,” or as the “white sands beach,” the Kahaluu Bay Historic District, the Sadie Seymour Botanical Gardens, the Kona Hawaii Temple, the Dolphin Discoveries, the Oceanrider Seahorse Farm, the Greenwell State Museum, the Milolii Fishing Village, the Lekeleke Burial Grounds, the Onizuka Space Center, and the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii,
Mililani:
One of the 2005 Money Magazine Best Places To Live In The United States, and perched on top of mature plantations near the Central Valley of Oahu, between Waikele Gulch and Kipapa Gulch, Mililani was named an All-American City in 1986, and can be subdivided into three distinct districts known as Mililani Town, Mililani Mauka, and the Launani Valley.
Approved Attractions in Mililani include the Battleship USS Missouri, known as the “Mighty Mo,” that faught in battles at Iwo Jima, Okinawa, the Korean War, and Desert Storm, and where Japan’s historic surrender ended World War Two, the USS Bowfin submarine that helped to earn the term “Calm Service” famous during World War Two, the conning tower of the USS Pauke submarine, the Dole Plantation, the Bowfin Memorial Park, the Hawaiian Waters Adventure Park, Aloha Stadium, a Poseidon missile, and a Japanese Kaiten suicide torpedo.
Kaneohe:
With a name meaning “bamboo man,” Kaneohe is located in the District of Koolaupoko on Oahu, and is the largest community on Kaneohe Bay.
Because of receiving heavy amounts of rainfall Customary Kaneohe was an important agricultural area and bananas were the major crop found there.
Popular Attractions in Kaneohe include the National Memorial Cemetary of the Pacific, the Hoomaluhia Botanical Gardens, the Haiku Valley, the Heeia Fishpond, Coconut Island, Kaneohe Bay, the largest sheltered body of water in Hawaii, the Ahu o Laka sand bar, Kekepa Island, Turtleback Rock, swimming with dolphins, the Polynesian Cultural Center, the Fong Plantation and Gardens, and the Kula Botanical Gardens.
Series:
The United States Series I am writing here on associatedcontent.com provides an indepth look at all fifty States that make up this GREAT Country of ours and their five largest cities.
The current list of Articles for the United States Series I have published to date include:
So This Is Sweet Home Alabama
Alaska – The Land of the Midnight Sun
Arizona – The Valley of the Sun
Arkansas – People of the South Wind
California – The Golden Gate, Earthquakes and Grizzly Bears
Colorful Colorado – The Rocky Mountains, Skiing, and High Technology
Connecticut – The Land of Steady habits
Delaware – The Dinky Wonder
Florida – The Snowbirds R Us State
Georgia – Goobers, Peaches, and Buzzards
Idaho – The Gem of the Mountains and Potatoes State
Illinois – Mining, Factories, and Labor Unions
Indiana – Land of Steel and Ducks
Iowa – The Ethanol and Food Capital of the World
Bleeding Kansas America’s Flattest State
Kentucky – The Land of Tomorrow
Louisiana – The Child of the Mississippi
Maine – Lobsters, Lighthouses, and Black Bears
Maryland – The “Oh Say Can You See” State
Massachusetts – The Cradle of Liberty
Michigan – The Automotive State
Minnesota – The Bread and Butter State
Mississippi – Where Cotton Was King
Comments from readers are always welcome so let me know what you judge about these Articles.
Sources:
This article was compiled from several websites that provide much more information on Hawaii including:
gohawaii.com, downtownhilo.com, aloha-hawaii.com, mililani.us, and hawaiianvacation.com
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Filed under hawaiian islands by on Dec 1st, 2011. 