Hawaii Travel Guide

overview:

Hawaii became the 50th state of the United States on August 21, 1959. It is situated in the North Pacific Ocean, 2,300 miles (3,700 km) from the mainland. In the 19th Century, Hawaii was also known as the Sandwich Islands.

Archaeologic evidence points to earliest habitation in the 11th Century ACE, probably by Polynesian settlers from the Marquesas, Raiatea and Bora Bora. The first recorded European contact with the islands was in 1778 by British explorer James Cook. However, substantial evidence exists of earlier Spanish visits to Hawaii. Hawaii was an independent kingdom from 1810 until 1893, when the monarchy was overthrown. It was an independent republic from 1894 until 1898. It became a U.S. territory in 1898 and has been a state since 1959.

While it was once a major hub for the whaling, sugar and pineapple industries, it is now economically dependent on tourism and the U.S. military. The natural beauty of the islands continues to be one of Hawaii's greatest assets. Hawaii is an archipelago of over 19 distinct volcanic islands located over a geological "hot spot" in the Pacific. The Pacific plate on which the islands ride moves to the northwest, so in general the islands are older and smaller as you move from southeast to northwest. There are 8 major islands, 6 of which are open to tourism.

related websites:

Affordable Hawaii Vacation Rentals
Hawaii Affordable lists 100 Big Island vacation rental homes from beach front condo rental to ocean view homes & cottages for your Big Island vacation.
http://www.hawaiiaffordablevacationrentals.com

Kauai Outcall Massage
Tracey Schavone offers her Kauai massage as an opportunity to relieve stress, relax muscles, re-energize and open up to the joyful spirit of Kauai.
http://www.kauaioutcallmassage.com

Kauai Vacation Rentals
One of the newest and closest ocean view Kauai vacation rental houses at Poipu Beach, Hawaii. Aikane is Hawaiian for 'friendly' or 'house sharing' which best describes this 3 bedroom, 3 bath custom home at Poipu Beach, Kauai.
http://www.2kauai.com

Maui Vacation Rental
Luxurious 1-bedroom apartment 5 minutes walk to Sugar Beach in north Kihei.
http://www.4star-mauirentals.com

Search Real Estate on Kauai
Friendly expert agents and Kauai's most powerful real estate search tool.
http://www.kauaifound.com