PARADISE AT ITS BEST

HAWAII

It is the newest of the 50 US states (August 21, 1959), and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of Australia. Hawaii’s natural and diverse scenery, warm tropical climate, abundance of public beaches and oceanic surrounding, and active volcanoes make it a popular destination for tourists, surfers, biologists, and volcanologists alike. Due to its mid-Pacific location, Hawaii has many North American and Asian influences along with its own vibrant native culture. Hawaii has over a million permanent residents along with many visitors and U.S. military personnel. Its capital is Honolulu on the island of Oʻahu.

The state encompasses nearly the entire volcanic Hawaiian Island chain, which comprises hundreds of islands spread over 1,500 miles (2,400 km). At the southeastern end of the archipelago, the eight "main islands" are (from the northwest to southeast) Niʻihau, Kauaʻi, Oʻahu, Molokaʻi, Lānaʻi, Kahoʻolawe, Maui, and Hawaiʻi. The last is by far the largest and is often called "The Big Island" to avoid confusion with the state as a whole. The archipelago is physiographically and ethnologically part of the Polynesian subregion of Oceania.

Hawaii's coastline is approximately 750 miles (1,210 km) long, which is fourth in the United States after Alaska, Florida, and California.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawaii

I will focus on the island of Kauai for this blog page. I was raised at this island, and it is one of my favorite places in the world. 

Kauai's map shows an island 33 miles long and roughly 25 miles wide, encompassing 554 square miles in diameter. Kauai's 90 miles of shoreline has more beaches per mile than any others in the Hawaiian chain. Kauai's interior is very mountainous with steep canyons and towering peaks. Mount Kawaikini (5,243 feet) and Mount Waialeale (5148 feet) are Kauai's highest points. Mount Waialeale is known as the "wettest spot on Earth" receiving an average of 480 inches (40 feet) of rain per year. Hundreds of waterfalls cascade down streams and rivers as this rainfall makes its way to the ocean. The Waimea is Hawaii's longest river at 20 miles and moves 150 million gallons of water per day into the sea. Kauai's Wailua River is the state's only navigable waterway. The interior of Kauai is mostly uninhabited with its population of 51,000 living mostly along the shores in small towns like Lihue,Kapa'a, Koloa, Hanapepe, Princeville, and Hanalei. 

Sources: http://www.summitpacificinc.com/kauai_map.html

               http://www.holidayplanners.com/members/kauai.php