Page 732 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - USA

730  ALASK A & HA W AI ‘ I

HAWAI’I

A tropical island paradise of golden sand beaches, waterfalls, and lush forests,
the Aloha State attracts more than 6 million visitors a year. An isolated archipelago
in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, the islands’ exotic landscape and luxurious
hospitality offer a wealth of experiences from volcanic eruptions and world-
class surfing to glimpses of the fascinating cultural heritage of Polynesia.

Located in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, History
2,500 miles (4,000 km) southwest of Los Hawai‘i’s historical connections to the
Angeles, the Hawaiian Islands are volcanic US mainland are both distant and
in origin. In fact, the islands are still contentious. Originally colonized
evolving, as is evident from the lava by Polynesians, Hawai‘i was
flows on the slopes of 13,796-ft a group of independent
(4,205-m) Mount Kīlauea on the kingdoms when it was
island of Hawai‘i or the “Big Island.” discovered by English sailor
The next largest island, Maui, Captain James Cook in 1778.
was formed by the dormant Initially welcomed by the
volcano Haleakalā. This, the fastest- natives, Cook was killed by
growing of the islands, still retains them a year later. Other
some significant history, especially Polynesian dance, a popular explorers followed, bringing
in the former whaling port of attraction new, often fatal diseases.
Lahaina. The next island along in By the end of the 18th
the chain, Moloka‘i, is well off the tourist century, however, the islands had been
trail. Formerly a pineapple ranching center, united into a respected monarchy under
Moloka‘i is famous for the towering cliffs the revered monarch, King Kamehameha
that line its northern coast. Lāna‘i, another the Great (ruled 1795–1819).
small island, is also offshore from Maui. During the early 19th century, European
The most popular and developed island traders introduced fundamental changes.
is O‘ahu, where three-quarters of the Christianity was introduced by Puritan
population lives and most of the visitors missionaries from Boston in 1820, while
congregate. The center of O‘ahu is economically, forestry and whaling
Honolulu, the state capital and only big city. gained importance. These proved
Across the ocean from O‘ahu sits magical destabilizing to Native culture, and by
Kaua‘i, known as the “Garden Isle” for its the 1880s, white American entrepreneurs,
verdant rainforests, kept moist by more mainly sugar cane and pineapple
than 400 inches (10 m) of annual rainfall. farmers, acquired control, and the
monarchy was overthrown in 1893.
After a series of highly complicated
political maneuvers, Hawai‘i became
part of the US in 1898. Much later, in
1993, the US issued a formal apology
to the people of Hawai‘i for its leading
role in the “illegal overthrow of the
Kingdom of Hawai‘i.”
Powerful American plantation owners
dominated the first half of the 1900s,
and all attempts to unionize the low-paid,
The summit of Maui’s Mount Haleakalā mostly Japanese labor force were firmly

730-731_EW_USA.indd 730 11/2/16 2:50 PM
Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Portrait template “UK” LAYER
(SourceReport v1.2)
Date 5th December 2012
Size 125mm x 217mm