Hawaii State Geography

So you want to know about Hawaii? Here are some highlights! Also check out the links to other sites about Hawaii.

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Population (1994): 1,178,000 (40th in size)

State size: 6,471 square miles (47th in size)

State Capital: Honolulu (name is Hawaiian for "Sheltered Bay")

Major cities: Hilo, Honolulu, Kailua, Pearl City

Admission to union: The 50th State

Date entered the union: August 21, 1959

Origin of state name: From the native word "Hawakiki", which means "homeland".

Nicknames: The Aloha State

Bordering states: Hawaii is an island surrounded by the Pacific Ocean.

State bird: Hawaiian Goose

State flower: Red Hibiscus

State tree: Kukui (Candlenut Tree)

Motto: The Life of the Land is Perpetuated in Righeousness

Geographic Landmarks	Top of Page
Hawaii has lush tropical vegetation, beautiful beaches and volcanic mountains. The Kilauea Volcano is one of the most famous volcanoes in the world.

Points of Interest	Top of Page
Hawaii is the world mecca for surfing. It is also a popular location for fishing.

Major Industries	Top of Page
Tourism is Hawaii's largest industry. The tropical climate and beautiful beaches attract people from all over the United States and other parts of the world. Agriculture includes pineapples, sugarcane, livestock, orchids and other flowers. Manufacturing includes food canning.

Historical Highlights	Top of Page
	Initial settlers arrived to Hawaii from Tahiti in 1200. The islands were discovered by Captain Cook in 1778. Hawaii became part of the U.S. in 1898. The United States officially entered World War II after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, in 1941.

Population and Culture	Top of Page
	Hawaii still maintains its polynesian heritage, although it is now home for a diverse mix of people from Europe, Japan, Philippines, Korea and Africa.

Climate	Top of Page
	Hawaii has a tropical climate.

Interesting Tidbits	Top of Page

Hawaii State Flag

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