Hawaii is a chain of islands in the Pacific Ocean. The archipelago belongs to the Polynesian cultural area and is the 50th state in the United States.
According to Acronymmonster, Hawaii is a group of islands in the Pacific Ocean. Politically, Hawaii is part of the United States. However, Polynesian culture is ubiquitous. The capital is Honolulu – the name translated means ‘sheltered bay’. In addition to Hawaiian, the official language is English. The island nation is made up of 137 islands and atolls. Apart from the eight largest islands, only a few are inhabited. Hawaii is a very remote island group, which is why it has a unique fauna and flora. It is home to many endemic animal species and over 70 species of birds. The flora can also be classified as versatile.
Honolulu is the capital and largest city of Hawaii with a population of 974,563 (2019). There are a number of different religions on the islands, but ancestral cults also shape the image of Hawaii. For example, the polytheistic world of gods plays a role in the Hawaiian religion. Nevertheless, the majority professes Christianity – due to European and US continental influences.
The islands were probably first settled between the second and sixth centuries. A second wave of settlement took place in the 11th century. In the 19th century, Hawaii was still ruled by a king. At the beginning of the 20th century, however, a third wave of immigration began, which brought mainly Asians to the islands. So the Hawaiians became a minority. A referendum finally decided that Hawaii would annex to the United States. On August 21, 1951, the archipelago became the 50th state in the United States. The first Hawaiian governor was William F. Quinn. Nine years later, Hawaiians first took part in a US presidential election.
Largest Counties in Hawaii by Area
According to Countryaah, the biggest counties in Hawaii are listed as below:
| Ranking | County | Area |
| 1 | Hawaii County | 10,432 km2 |
| 2 | Maui County | 2,901 km2 |
| 3 | Kauai County | 1,611 km2 |
| 4 | Honolulu County | 1,546 km2 |
| 5 | Kalawao County | 13 km2 |
Kihei
Among the most important tourist centers of the Hawaiian island of Maui is Kihei, located on the southern coast. This 11,000-person city is located in Maalaea Bay, among beautiful natural parks and near major golf courses. Kihei is also home to one of the most beautiful beaches on the island of Maui, which is separated from the city center by a boardwalk.
Kihei is a sun-drenched coastal area that is lined with almost 10 kilometers of beautiful beaches. Here you can swim in the Pacific Ocean, snorkel, and enjoy kayaking or surfing. With a bit of luck, you will see a group of humpback whales on the surface, spouting streams of water. Boats regularly depart from Maalaea Bay on expeditions to observe these giant whales.
For wonderful diving, it is possible to go from Kihei to the islet of Molokini, which is located about 5 kilometers from the south coast of the island of Maui. It is basically an old volcanic crater that has created a unique coral reef that is teeming with life. Half of the rim of the crater eroded and an interesting sickle-shaped formation was formed, which rises up to a height of 50 meters above the surface of the ocean. In the transparent depths of the ocean, you can observe more than 250 species of beautifully colored tropical fish of various shapes and sizes. The inhabitants here are also large and rare sea turtles.
Directly in Kihei, there are various possibilities for shopping, entertainment, sports and cultural activities. Satisfy your hunger at one of the many excellent restaurants and try some of the Hawaiian specialties. Accommodation is provided by numerous hotels that provide comfortable services at the level. To spice up your vacation, you can go play golf at Elleair Maui Golf Club, and if you head to the neighboring town of Wailea-Makena, you can test your golf skills at four more golf courses.
Lovers of nature and hiking can go from the town to Kihei Regional Park, Kalama Beach Park or the Kealia Pond National Wildlife Refuge, which is made up of salt marshes and wetlands. The reserve, which covers less than 3 square kilometers, has become a refuge for about 30 species of water birds, among which we can also find many rare and endemic species, such as the night quack, the Hawaiian coot or the Hawaiian pisilla. This nature reserve was established in 1953 and was expanded in 1992.