Hawaii Islands: A Work Of Art From Underground Volcanoes

Hawaii, the 50th state in the United States, is actually made up of a string of islands collectively known as Hawaii. The largest of the islands in the string is also known as Hawaii. This may cause some confusion, so to make it clear which island is being referred to, many simply call the island of Hawaii the big island. The Hawaii islands are actually the result of underground lava formation beginning in the floor of the ocean and building upwards until the magma extended above the depths of the Pacific Ocean.

There are eight inhabited islands in the string of the Hawaii islands, but many others are uninhabited due to their size and resources. Nihau, the north west-most island is the smallest of the settled islands. The big island of Hawaii is located to the furthest southeast link in the chain of the Hawaii islands. The state capital Honolulu is located on the island of Oahu . Many other tourist attractions can be found in Oahu as well, and chosen by former ruler King Kamehamea due to the proximity of the natural harbor, now known as Honolulu Harbor.

Other lands in the Hawaii islands include Kauai, Molokai, Lanai, Kahoulawe and Maui. Transportation between these islands is provided by air or boat with the larger islands having airports capable of accepting large commercial aircraft and other smaller, commuter aircraft.

Nature Helped Shape The Volcanic Land

It may be hard to believe but the earliest beginnings of the Hawaii islands can be traced back to barren lava growth. The theory is that plants and animals were brought to the islands by wind currents, in the water and by flying birds. When the first human inhabitants arrived from Polynesia in about 500 A.D., plants and animals had already claimed the island and recent conservation methods have insured the continued growth and stable habitat for the native species.

Even before the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, these Hawaii islands had become an important strategy for the U.S. Navy and Air Force. While still home to U.S. military bases, which provide a large population with civilian job opportunities, it is also home to the monuments for the soldiers who perished in the attack.

The population on the Hawaii islands has grown tremendously, especially since becoming a state in 1959. The census recorded a population of about 154,000 in 1910. However, by the year 2000, the inhabitants had increased to over 1.2 million. The Hawaii islands are the only U.S. state completely surrounded by water and is located about 1,500 miles away from mainland at the west coast of California.

Those who see these islands on TV admire their beauty. And the privileged millions who were able to visit the Hawaii islands all agree that they are a work of art and beauty, a cherished gift from underground volcanoes.