Hawaii city guide

Hawaii consists of eight major islands plus 124 minor islands, reefs and shoals, strung like a necklace across the Pacific for over 1,500 miles. The eight major are Oahu, Maui, Hawaii (known as Big Island), Kauai, Molokai, Lanai, Kahoolawe (uninhabited) and Niihau which is privately owned.

Hundreds of gems fashion the Hawaii’s necklace, but only six islands welcome visitors.
Each of the major islands has an identity all its own. Oahu is as different from Molokai and Maui as Kauai is from Lanai and the Big Island - each as varied and colorful as the official state flower, the hibiscus. With their collective mass of 4.1 million acres or 6,450 square miles, these islands form the fourth smallest state in the United States.

To Hawaiians the land is their "mother". The Hawaiian word for land, 'aina, literally means "that which feeds”. Hawaii has been shaped by the capricious forces of fire, magma, rains, and winds - and now, most recently, by man. About 30 miles southwest of the active volcano Kilauea on the Big Island of Hawaii, the newest island in the chain, Loihi, is forming.

Where tourism is concerned, Hawaii possesses something for everyone. The popular island of Oahu is perfect for those wishing to experience the islands with the convenience of cities. While Rainforests and hiking trails are located just minutes from Waikiki Beach, one of the worlds best tourist destinations. In the winter, large waves on Oahu's north shore turn the area into the surfing capital of the world.

However, all the neighbor islands of Hawaii offer relaxing opportunities. Many of the natural wonders of the Islands are located on these Islands. From Waimea Canyon on Kauai, Haleakala on Maui, to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island of Hawaii, make Hawaii a spectacular place to visit.