Geographic Information
The State of Hawaii is comprised of eight major islands. Measuring from its submarine base (3,280 fathoms) in the Hawaiian Trough to the top of the mountain (13,796 feet), Mauna Kea is the tallest mountain in the world with a combined height of 33,476 feet.
The July 1, 1991 resident population for the State of Hawaii was 1,134,800 persons (Between the 1980 and 1990 Census counts -- 964,691 and 1,108,229 persons -- Hawaii's population grew 14.9 percent).
Historical Information
It is generally believed that Hawaii was discovered and populated by Polynesians in voyaging canoes sometime in the first millennium, A.D. It was a kingdom until 1775, when it was discovered by Captain James Cook and renamed the "Sandwich Islands" after the Earl of Sandwich; however as early as 1818, King Kamehameha I is reported to have protested, saying that each island should be called by its own name, and the entire group referred to as the "Islands of the Kingdom of Hawaii".
The islands were officially granted their independence (after a brief usurpation) from Great Britain in 1843, and remained a sovereign kingdom until 1893, when the monarchy was overthrown by a group of American businessmen. Hawaii's last queen was Queen Liliuokalani, who wrote the now famous, Aloha ‘Oe.
Hawaii officially became the 50th state in the American Union on August 21, 1959.
Honolulu Community Information
Oahu is 'the gathering place.' It has more hotels, more restaurants, and more major attractions than all of the other islands put together. Our major city, Honolulu, is here. So is the 'world's best beach' at Waikiki.
Honolulu is sophisticated, lively, and as breathtaking as the Banzai Pipeline. It has more in the way of arts, culture, and entertainment. It has an abundance of galleries, nightclubs, and museums, a major zoo, aquarium, Iolani Palace (the only royal palace on U.S. soil), Pearl Harbor, the Arizona Memorial, the USS Missouri... the list goes on and on.
But the best of Oahu is its natural setting. No matter where you turn, there's a new vista waiting to be discovered. Miles of beaches. Dramatic peaks. Palm trees swaying in the gentle tradewinds. No other American city could offer you the opportunity to surf the world's biggest waves, snorkel a lagoon, hike into a dormant volcano, golf at a dozen championship courses, and catch the sunset from a five-star restaurant.
Waikiki
The Beach: Waikiki Beach is actually a string of beaches stretching two and half miles along the ocean, from the Hilton Hawaiian Village to Diamond Head. Here you will find sparkling sand gently sloping into turquoise waters, elements that make it a world-class beach. The soft sand bottom and safe waters make it an attractive spot for swimmers, surfers, and other water enthusiasts. It's also a great place for people-watching.
Diamond Head
Diamond Head is Oahu's largest tuff cone formed over 100,000 years ago by an active bubbling volcano. Nineteenth century British sailors nicknamed the crater Diamond Head when they mistook the calcite crystals for diamonds. A well-graded trail leads you up the 760-feet summit to a World War II bunker with a bird's eye view of Honolulu.
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