Virginia Boucher

Cindy Rouzer

Soc1DE1

Las Positas College

26 May, 2006

Hawaii 

        The Hawaiian Islands are one of the most remote groups of islands in the planet.  They are more than 2400 miles from the nearest landmass of any size.  They were formed from volcanic eruptions under the Pacific Ocean.  The oldest islands are to the north and west of the younger ones.  The largest island, known as Hawaii or the “Big Island” is the youngest, emerging from the ocean about one million years ago.  The Big Island is the only one that has current volcanic activity.

The Islands are a vacation paradise for tourists with a vast array of activities from snow skiing to hikes through tropical rain forests and adventurous underwater journeys to the world of coral and lava tubes in the clear, warm waters.

Hawaii has a rich history and a cultural heritage that is a blend of the many waves of immigration that have occurred since the first inhabitants arrived by canoe.

Although it became a part of the United States almost half a century ago it retains a personality of its own due to the geographic distance and the rich heritage of its multi-ethnic population.