Hawaii Geography

Basic Facts

• Geographical Region: West
• Size: 10932 sq.mi., 43rd rank overall.
• Admitted to Statehood: August 21, 1959
• Population: 1,295,178;42nd rank overall.
• Capital: Honolulu
• Other Major City: Hilo
• Abbreviation: HI

Fun Facts

• Nickname: Aloha State
• State Flag: Click Here (opens window to 50states.com)
• State Bird: Nene (opens window to 50states.com)
• State Flower: Hibiscus or Pua Aloalo (opens window to 50states.com)

Geographical Description

• Hawaii consists of 8 volcanic islands located 2,100 miles southwest of San Francisco, California deep in the Pacific Ocean. Some of the coastlines consist of high cliffs, while other enjoy beaches with white sand or black sand, formed when molten lava met the ocean.
• Hawaii is the largest of the islands formed by five volcanoes, two of which are still active. Kohala is on the northern side of the island. Hualalai is in the west. Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa are toward the center of the island. Kilauea is located on the eastern side of Mauna Loa. High cliffs and waterfalls make up the north and southeastern coastline.
• Maui was formed by two volcanoes, Haleakala being the world's largest dormant volcanic crater.
• Kaho'olawe is uninhabited, small island that is dry and windswept.
• Molokai has three distinctively different regions. The eastern section is covered with rugged mountains and canyons. A dry plateau occupies the west. The central portion of the island is a fertile plain suitable for farming.
• Lanai is mostly known for its farm land producing pineapples.
• Oahu is made up of the Koolau Range in the east and the Waianae Range in the west. A valley consisting of a fertile, rolling plain separates the two ranges. A 760-foot extinct volcanic crater, known as Diamond Head, located on the southeastern end of the island is a notable landmark.
• Kauai features Kawaikini Peak at 5,170 and Mount Waialeale at 5,080 feet above sea level located in the center of the island. Many streams flow from these mountains creating colorful canyons. Mount Waialeale is also known as the rainiest spot on earth averaging 460 inches of rain a year.
• Ni'iahu is a semi-arid island with a dry climate. It is owned by the Robinson family of Kauai.

Map: Relief Map of HI

Industry

Tourism, commercial fishing, food processing, apparel, fabricated metal products, stone, clay, and glass products.

Agriculture

Sugarcane, agricultural seeds, pineapples, papayas, nursery stock, livestock, coffee, macadamia nuts.

Other Information

Fun Facts:

• Hawaii is the most isolated population center on the face of the earth. Hawaii is 2,390 miles from California; 3,850 miles from Japan; 4,900 miles from China; and 5,280 miles from the Philippines
• Hawaii has its own time zone and does not have daylight savings time.
• Kilauea volcano is the world's most active
• Hawaii is the widest state in the U.S. measured from east to west.
• There are only 12 letters in the Hawaiian alphabet

More Fun Facts: http://www.50states.com/facts/hawaii.htm