Hawaii is located in the archipelago of the Hawaiian Islands in the Pacific Ocean, 21°18′41?N, 157°47′47?W. Admitted on August 21, 1959, Hawaii constitutes the 50th state of the United States and is situated 2,300 miles (3,700 km) from the mainland.Oahu contains the capital, Honolulu, and is the most commercialized, while Hawaii is the biggest island.

Oahu has two diagonal mountain ranges (the Waianae and Koolau), with many beautiful waterfalls. Hawaii is cloaked in macadamia orchards and coffee plantations. The islands support rainforest, green flatlands and a variety of other climates - in fact, of 13 climatic regions, Hawaii has all but two. Physically and psychologically, Hawaii stands apart from the USA, with an ethnically diverse population and a rich Polynesian heritage.

With volcanoes like Mount Kilauea squirting out new land like toothpaste out of the tube, Hawaii, quite literally, is growing. In fact, there’s an expanding volcano near the Big Island that’s still a few thousand feet below the surface of the ocean. One day, in a few hundred or a few thousand years, it will become the newest Hawaiian island. In fact, it already has a name: Loihi.

Meanwhile, there’s already enough beauty and activity in Hawaii to fill more vacations than we could ever take. With so much to choose from, first-time visitors need to be selective. Our recommendation is to settle first on the Hawaii you want to see. It might be beaches, luaus and nightlife; it might be rare orchids and hikes in the rain forest; it might be quiet countryside, small towns and scenic drives. Whatever the combination, there will likely be an island or islands best suited to your desires.