A string of islands collectively known as Hawaii make up the 50th state in the United States, but the largest of the islands in the string is also known as Hawaii which often causes some confusion. To make it clear which island is being referred to, a lot of people simply name the island of Hawaii the big island. The islands of Hawaii are actually the effect of underground lava formation beginning in the base of the ocean and building upwards until the magma extended above the depths of the Pacific Ocean.

There are eight islands inhabited in the string of the Hawaii islands with some others tipping their peaks out of the water, but they are not settled. Nihau, the north west-most island of the chain is the smallest of the populated island and the big island is located to the furthest southeast link in the string of the Hawaii islands. Oahu is home to the state capital Honolulu as well as you’ll find there many things to do in Hawaii for vacationers, taken by former ruler King Kamehamea due to the proximity of the natural harbor, now well-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 bigger islands having airports taking large commercial aircraft and others smaller, commuter aircraft.

With the Hawaii islands beginnings traced back to barren lava growth, it is hypothesized that plants and animals were brought to the islands by wind currents, in the water and by flying birds. When the first human habitant arrived for Polynesia in about 500 A.D., plants and animals had already seized the island and recent conservation methods have ensured the went on growth and healthy habitat for the native species.

The Hawaii islands became an significant strategy for the Air Force and U.S. Navy, even before in 1941 Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. It’s still home to U.S. military bases, that provide a large population with civilian job opportunities, it is also home to the memorials for the soldiers who died during the attack.

The population of Hawaii islands has grown enormously, especially since getting a state in 1959, as the census in 1910 registered a population of about 154,000. Residents have grown to over 1.2 million in 2000. The islands of Hawaii are the only U.S. state totally surrounded by the ocean and is located around 1,500 miles away from mainland at the Pacific coast of California.