Aloha! Welcome to the Hawaii Information and Penpal site. This site contains information about Hawaii culture, history, music, hula dancing, shopping, restaurants, sight seeing, surfing, scuba diving, lomi lomi massage, huna healing and Hawaii activities and events. This site also has information about meet up groups in Hawaii. Thank you for visiting our site. (Mahalo nui loa)
Hawaii is located in the north central Pacific Ocean. Hawaii is made up of a string of 137 islands, including a land area of 6,423.4 square miles. Recognized as the most geographically isolated population center on earth, Hawaii is 2,390 miles from California, 2,850 miles from Japan, and 4,900 miles from China. The major islands of Hawaii extend from northwest to southeast and from the oldest to youngest are; Niihau, Kauai, Oahu, Molokai, Lanai, Hahoolawe, Maui and Hawaii. Kauai is estimated to be around 5 million years old and Hawaii less than 1 million years old. A new island, Loihi, is being formed 20 miles (32km) offshore of the Big Island of Hawaii. Still located about 3,000 feet (915m) below sea level, it is expected to rise above the water in approximately 60,000 years. The first Polynesians settled on this island chain between 500 and 600 AD. Initially, it was a kingdom until 1775 when Captain James Cook discovered and named it the Sandwich Islands, in honor of the Earl of Sandwich. Great Britain granted the Islands their independence in 1843. Hawaii officially became the 50th state in the American Union on August 21, 1959. Considered one of the most beautiful places on earth, the stunning physical beauty of Hawaii is incomparable. Magnificent mountains were created millions of years ago by volcanic activity creating the archipelago, which emerged from the ocean. Wave action and erosion over the centuries formed coral reefs and miles of sand beaches. Hawaii enjoys favorable weather with mild temperatures ranging from 60-90 degrees Fahrenheit all year long, making it ideal for any outdoor activity. Often compared to Paradise, it is said that the most beautiful part of Hawaii is the genuine warmth and welcoming disposition of its people, called the spirit of Aloha. Don Ho, Shock the Monkey Ho, of mixed Chinese, Hawaiian, Portuguese, Dutch, and German descent, was born in the small Honolulu neighborhood of Kaka'ako, but he grew up in Kaneohe on the windward side of the island of Oahu. He was a graduate of the Kamehameha Schools in 1949 and he attended Springfield College in 1950, but returned home to earn a bachelor's degree in sociology at University of Hawai'i in 1953. In 1954 Ho entered the United States Air Force and spent time flying fighter jets in both Texas and Hawaii. Ho left the United States Air Force in 1959 due to his mother's illness and began singing at his mother's club, Honey's. In 1963, he moved from Kaneohe to Waikiki in Honolulu and played at a night club called Duke's owned by Duke Kahanamoku, where he caught the attention of record company officials.
The Merrie Monarch Festival The Merrie Monarch Festival is a week-long cultural event held annually in Hilo on the island of Hawaii (also known as the "Big Island"). Festivities start on Easter Sunday and culminate with the hula competition events at Edith Kanaka'ole Tennis Stadium -- Miss Aloha Hula on Thursday, Hula Kahiko on Friday, and Hula 'Auana on Saturday. The Merrie Monarch Festival began forty years ago by the Hawaii Island Chamber of Commerce and continued by the private Merrie Monarch Festival community organization. The major purpose of the festival is the perpetuation, preservation, and promotion of the art of hula and the Hawaiian culture through education. The festival is considered the world's premier festivals for people of all ages to display their skills and knowledge of the art of ancient and modern hula. The annual presentation of the Merrie Monarch Festival has led to a renaissance of the Hawaiian culture that is being passed on from generation to generation. The week-long festival includes art exhibits, craft fairs, demonstrations, performances, a parade that emphasizes the cultures of Hawaii, and a three-day hula competition that has received worldwide recognition for its historic and cultural Honolulu Marathon The Honolulu Marathon starts on Ala Moana Boulevard, which in Hawaiian means "path by the ocean." This phrase is an appropriate description for the entire race course. At the Starting Line is Ala Moana Beach Park, a local recreation area encompassing over 100 acres of park, beaches, swimming and surfing spots. The second mile of the Honolulu marathon course runs through downtown along Honolulu Harborand the historic Aloha Tower, a ten-story clock tower which was the tallest building in Hawaii when it was erected in 1926. Runners turn right into Chinatown and proceed through Downtown Honolulu on South King Street. This historic stretch of the course passes Iolani Palace, the only royal palace on American soil; the gilded statue of King Kamehameha; Kawaiahao Church, built with coral blocks from nearby reefs; Honolulu Hale, city hall; and Mission Houses Museum. The University of Hawaii - Manoa Campus The College of Agriculture and Mechanical Arts opened in Honolulu,Hawaii in 1907. Ten students began classes with thirteen faculty members in September of the following yearand the first graduates received degrees - two in the sciences and one each in agriculture and engineering in 1912. The University has been growing ever since. The college obtained university status in 1920 and was named theUniversity of Hawaii. Areas of excellence for the University of Hawaii include nationally competitive programs including environmental law, eastern philosophy, Asian studies, international business, second language studiesand athletics. Research at the University of Hawaii ranks among the major research universities in the United States. The University of Hawaii is located in beautiful Manoa valley which is a rainbow-filled neighborhood just minutes from Waikiki and other O'ahu attractions. University of Hawaii Web Site
Enjoy and use our free photos of Hawaii! You are welcome to use these photos on your website or blogs. In return please link to our website. If you want to do a link exchage send us an email with your linking information. If you would like to buy a high resolution version of these photos, send us an offer and tell us the purpose that you will use the photo for. Our web galleries have photos of Hawaii beaches, sunsets, rainbows, dolphins, turtles, Hawaii food, Hawaii flowers and more. New photo galleries will be added often!
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