Hawaii general data
- Time zone: 12 hours less than Italy
- Capital: Honolulu
- Main towns: Hilo, Kailua, Kaneohe, Pearl City, Waipahu.
- Area: 28.330 km²
- Population: 1,300,000 inhabitants approximately.
- Population density: 45,8 residents / km²
- State abbreviation: HI
- Entry into the United States: It joins the United States on August 21, 1959, it is the 50th state to join the union.
From Havaiki, the promised land of the Polynesians, derives the name of these beautiful enchanted islands. The state of Hawaii is a volcanic archipelago that extends approximately 3,200 km into the Pacific Ocean. The volcanic activity that originated the islands has continued to manifest itself in recent times; thus, in 1881, the eruption of Mauna Loa caused a torrent of lava that reached close to the city of Hilo. Kilauea volcano, near Mauna Loa is one of the most active in the world. the archipelago is continually threatened by the effects of tidal waves (tsunamis) caused by earthquakes. The coast is surrounded by coral reefs, but a few hundred meters away.
According to thembaprograms.com, the archipelago of Hawaii is made up of five main island groups: Hawaii, Maui, Lanai Kahoolawe and Molokai, Kauai Niihau, and Oahu. The island of Hawaii, the largest of the archipelago (10,414 km²) is the southernmost of the large islands and is dominated by the presence of numerous volcanoes, including Mauna Kea, located in the north. Other volcanoes on the island are Hualalai, Kohala and Kilauea, the latter together with Mauna Loa are the only two active. South of the island is Kealakekua Bay, where James Cook landed and died in 1779.
The island of Maui is located north of the island of Hawaii, separated from it by the Alenuihaha Channel. By extension it is the second most important of the archipelago. The two most important volcanoes on the island are the 3,063m Haleakala and the Pu’u Kukui.
The islands of Lanai, Kahoolawe, and Molokai lie west of the island of Maui. The largest of this group is Molokai, consisting of a plateau in the western sector and a mountainous region in the east, with cliffs. The island of Lanai, between Molokai and Maui, consists of a volcano and a central plateau, occupied by pineapple plantations. The entire island is owned by Dole, a multinational fruit company in the United States. Kahoolawe Island is located south of Maui and is the smallest of the major islands of the archipelago. This island has remained uninhabited since starting from 1941 and until recently.
North of the aforementioned group of islands, and separated by the Kaiwi Channel, is the third largest island in the archipelago: Oahu. This island has two volcanoes, the Koolau and the Wainanae, which enclose a central plateau of rich soils used for the plantation of sugar cane and pineapple. In the southwest, on a coral plain, is Honolulu, the state’s capital and most important city, and to the north of the city, in a natural bay is Pearl Harbor.
The two northernmost islands of the archipelago are Kauai and Niihau. Kauai, the larger of the two, is known as ‘the Garden Island’. The island is made up of a volcano, steep cliffs along the Na Pali coast, and breathtaking canyons in the interior, notably that of Waimea. The small island of Niihau is from the geomorphological point of view a plateau that rises from a coastal plain.
The archipelago of Hawaii does not have large rivers or important lakes since due to the characteristics of the volcanic soil, despite the abundant rains, the soil has a great capacity to absorb water. The main permanent courses are the Wailuku and Kaukonahua rivers, the latter located on the island of Oahu. the only natural lake is the Halulu, on the island of Niihau.
The climate of the state of Hawaii is subtropical, with an average temperature of 24 ° C. The effect of the sea and the height affects the climate of the islands. The islands are affected by winds mainly from the north. Thus, if temperatures at sea level are generally above 15 ° C, temperatures as low as -10 ° C have been recorded in the mountainous area. enormous, while in Puako an average of 254 mm is recorded per year, on Mount Waialeale, rainfall of up to 12,700 mm has been recorded in the forests of Kauai, making it the region with the highest rainfall in the United States of America.
Honolulu
According to countryaah.com, Honolulu is a city in the United States, the most populated in Hawaii. Important port and center of communications between the United States, Asia and the Pacific Ocean. It is the seat of government of Honolulu County and the capital of the state of Hawaii.
The city of Honolulu is located on the southern coast of the island of Oahu, 4,096 km from the city of Los Angeles. The city is situated on a modest plain rising just 5m above sea level, surrounded by the Koolau Mountains. The capital of Hawaii revolves around two districts: the historic and commercial district of downtown Honolulu and the famous Waikiki beach, 3 miles to the east. The center manages to combine large skyscrapers, a royal palace and Japanese temples, missionary homes with New England architecture, the active Chinatown area, strip clubs and fish markets, all concentrated in a relatively small and compact area..
Since it is close to the Tropic of Cancer, the prevailing climate of the city is of a semi-tropical character with little seasonal variation. The average annual temperatures of the city are 24 ºC, with an average of 27 ° C in August and 22 ° C in January.
In addition to being the commercial and financial center of the Hawaiian Islands, Honolulu is also an important air and sea transportation hub in the Pacific area. The port of Honolulu is a hub for freight traffic for various international shipping companies. Maritime communications are essential for the city and the archipelago. The port of Honolulu is regularly connected to the city of San Francisco on the west coast of the United States.
What to See – The beauty of Honolulu’s natural environment, a mix of cultures and historical diversity, offers visitors great opportunities for study and entertainment. In Honolulu, exotic flora and fauna abound. The zoo is home to a beautiful collection of tropical birds. Waikiki Aquarium features rare exotic varieties of seals and sharks.
Honolulu is the cultural center of the State of Hawaii. It has a symphony orchestra, theater, opera and operetta groups, as well as numerous museums. Blaisdell Concert Hall and the Kennedy Theater at the University of Hawaii are the two focal points of the city’s cultural activity. The city is a busy tourist destination thanks to its mild and constant climate, and its proximity to Waikiki Beach.
The downtown Capital District is dominated by the magnificent Victorian-style Lolani Palace, built in 1882. The only royal palace in the United States, it was designed by King David Kalakaua, who lived there. It has a luxurious interior with a koa wood staircase. To the south is the Kawaiaha’o Church, built of coral blocks. Adjacent to the church is the Mission Houses Museum, featuring the oldest log house in Hawaii.
Nearby is the statue of King Kamehameha, depicting the most beloved ruler of Hawaii, who reigned from 1795 to 1819. Honolulu Harbor is home to the Hawaii Maritime Center which exhibits ancient canoes and traces the journeys of Polynesian navigators. Nearby is Hókùle’a, a copy of an ancient Polynesian sailing canoe, and the restored Falls of Clyde, the last remaining four-masted sailing ship in the world. Waikiki, is one of the most famous beaches in the world, crowded with tourists and with the Diamond Head crater in the background. The beach is 4km long, from the Hilton Hawaiian Village to Diamond Head..
Among the skyscrapers stand two impressive period hotels, the Royal Hawaiian Hotel, and the Moana Hotel, colonial-style and the oldest in Waikiki. There are various interesting places in the Honolulu urban area. The Bishop Museum, founded by the American businessman Charles Bishop is considered the best museum in the world on Polynesian culture. Pearl Harbor preserves warships, military museums, and monuments. The most significant is the USS Arizona Memorial, on the spot where the ship was sunk during the Japanese bombing of December 7, 1941. Among the noteworthy folk festivals are: the Narcissus Festival which marks the Chinese New Year, and The Festival. Japanese cherry trees.
According to topschoolsoflaw.com, Honolulu is a vibrant cultural center. It also has a university with a specific field of study for marine biology. The mechanical, metallurgical and textile industries are the basis of the local economy. The production of canned pineapples and refined sugar is also quite important.
Useful numbers in Honolulu
Police fire brigade ambulance emergencies – 911
Ospedali
Straub Clinic & Hospital
888 S King St
Honolulu, HI 96813
tel.(808) 522-4000
Telephone prefix – 808
City data
Inhabitants – 378,000
Surface – 270 sq. Km
