| The one hundred and thirty seven islands,
| |
| | permanent inhabitants sailed in voyaging
|
| islets and shoals that make up the
| |
| | canoes from the southern hemisphere
|
| Hawaiian Island chain sit at the northern
| |
| | islands of the Marquesas, between 300 and
|
| tip of the Polynesian Triangle, an
| |
| | 800 A.D. Later waves of settlers arrived
|
| expanse of ocean roughly the size of
| |
| | by the 12th century, this time from
|
| Europe and North America combined. As one
| |
| | Tahiti.
|
| of the most geographically isolated,
| |
| | All Hawaiian Islands have a dry side and
|
| continuously populated spots on Earth,
| |
| | a wet side. The windward east side of
|
| Hawaii is a land of many contrasts.
| |
| | each island attracts more annual
|
| Hawaii, the largest of the Hawaiian
| |
| | rainfall. The leeward west side is always
|
| Islands, is nicknamed The Big Island
| |
| | the drier area of the island.
|
| because it is twice the combined size of
| |
| | The Big Island has a wide variety of
|
| the other islands.
| |
| | plant, marine and animal life. Many
|
| Big Island has an area of more than four
| |
| | species are rare and endangered including
|
| thousand square miles with nearly three
| |
| | the giant Pacific Green Sea Turtle, the
|
| hundred miles of coastline, ninety three
| |
| | Nene Goose and the Humpback Whale.
|
| miles long by seventy six miles wide. Big
| |
| | Vegetation zones include coastal, dry
|
| Island is located in Polynesia near the
| |
| | land forest, mixed open forest, rain
|
| centre of the Pacific Ocean just below
| |
| | forest and alpine.
|
| the Tropic of Cancer one of the most
| |
| | The economy was healthy in 2006. Key
|
| remote spots on Earth.
| |
| | indicators are positive for continuing
|
| The population had a resident population
| |
| | growth in the second half of this decade.
|
| of 162,971 in 2004. It is the second most
| |
| | However, Hawaiis cost of living is among
|
| populous island in the State.
| |
| | the highest in the nation and its 2004
|
| Approximately 1.5 million visitors
| |
| | per capita personal income below average.
|
| visited in 2005.
| |
| | In fact, sources indicate a cost of
|
| The first visitors to the Islands of
| |
| | living ranging from 30 percent above the
|
| Hawaii came not knowing what to expect or
| |
| | national average to over 60 percent
|
| even that the Islands existed. It is
| |
| | depending upon family size and
|
| generally believed Hawaiis first
| |
| | circumstances.
|
