Wanna learn some quick and interesting facts about the Hawaiian Islands and the state of Hawaii? The Hawaiian Islands Chain is actually much larger than the state of Hawaii and represents a larger portion of the land than the actual state.
The Hawaiian islands are a chain of dormant or extinct volcanoes. The state of Hawaii is comprised of a chain of these islands that extends about 1600 miles or 2600 Km. The state extends from the Big Island of Hawaii in its most southeast portion to Kure Island in the northwest most portion. It has a total area of nearly 11,000 square miles (10,931sq. mi.). This includes 38 sq. mi. of inland water. Yet the state of Hawaii and the Hawaiian Islands Chain are not exact duplicates and the suggested naming system is a bit misleading.
In fact, the state of Hawaii is comprised of eight primary islands, the Big Island of Hawaii, Maui, Kahoolawe, Lanai, Molokai, Oahu, Kauai, and Niihau. The actual Hawaii Island Chains consists of all eight primary islands, plus a string of islets, coral reefs, and something called shoals. These are typically uninhabited landforms. There are, however, a few exceptions such as the inhabited Midway Islands which is under control and administered by the United States Federal Government. Midway Islands is considered a separate dependency and not a portion of the state of Hawaii. Another inhabited exception to the landforms and chain description is the Atoll of Palmyra. Palmyra is an island southwest of the primary islands. It was once part of the Territory of Hawaii but for some reason excluded from statehood in 1959. Yet, Palmyra remains a territory of the United States.
Despite the norm in the United States to call residents of a state by their typical identifications based on ancestry, Hawaii and its citizens do not consider themselves Hawaiian. Instead, this representation is reserved for citizens who are Hawaiian by ancestry. Another important point to note, the state of Hawaii and its inhabitants are almost exclusively comprised of minority groups. No single group is considered a majority and because of this it is a great melting pot. Hawaii is the single state in the United States which celebrates its unique combining of numerous cultures and traditions. This maybe the only society in the United States which has historically been and remains tolerant of races, culture, language, and other various but distinct characteristics based on the residents or citizens who collectively create the populus.
Hawaii has since its statehood been a tourist mecca for the world. The lovely beaches and warm tropical weather attracts visitors and guests from around the globe. In addition, the United States Military has always maintained a strong presence especially on the island of Oahu. Hawaii is likely best known for its icon, Don Ho, who passed away in 2007. With the passing of this legendary performer goes much of the Hawaiian culture in the entertainment industry.
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