Hawaii has two languages: English and Hawaiian. In the Hawaiian language, Hawaii is spelled Hawai’i. We will use the English, most of the time, but we will include the Hawaiian for some place names as well. Hawaii (Hawai’i) is the only state that is not part of the North American continent. Hawaii is a chain of 132 islands, each of which is the top of a submerged volcanic mountain, often surrounded by a coral reef. Some islands appear to be simply coral reefs, but that is only because the top of the volcano is below the surface. There are eight main islands, the islands we usually think of when we think of Hawaii. All of these main islands, except for Kahoolawe, are inhabited. None of the remaining 124 islands are suitable for human habitation, or are protected reserves. All together, the smaller islands make up just a few square miles.

Hawaii is actually the name of one of the islands. It is also called the Big Island. It is the largest of the Hawaiian islands, and has been formed by five volcanoes, two of which are still active, and one of which flows into sea. The north and southeastern coast is fringed by high cliffs. Maui was formed by two volcanoes, and has been eroded into canyons that cut into the two mountains. A low strip of land connects the two mountains, and this fertile area is used for growing sugar cane. Kaho`olawe is a small, uninhabited island next to Maui. It is dry and windswept. The island of Moloka`i has rugged mountains in the east, dry plateaux in the west, and a central area of fertile plain. Lana`i has large areas suitable for pineapple growing. Oahu consists of two mountain ranges; the Koolau Range in the east, and the Waianae Range in the west. The valley between these two mountain ranges is a fertile, rolling plain and support many sugar and pineapple plantations. The center of Kaua’i island is made by Mount Waialeale, possibly the rainiest spot on Earth, averaging 460 inches of rain a year. On the northwestern coast there are rugged cliffs.