Hawaii Islands, USA

Ah Hawaii. Who can say the name without feeling its fresh tropical breezes and the scent of frangipani in the air? Its beauty is breathtaking and even though tourism to Hawaii is becoming more and more popular, the islands haven't been spoiled by it.  Sleepy villages, mountain ranges, hibiscus covered colonial homes, the bright clean sea and the easy life is still here and the island group is like a handful of jewels in a sparkling sea. The terrain itself is green and rich with vegetation and as the palm fronds sway in the breeze, you'll always be assured of warm days and nights. 
 
The only downside at the moment is the recent volcanic activity of Kilauea on the main island of Hawaii, so people are staying clear of the area. The island is still safe and there so much beauty on it, it's irresistible. 
 
Hawaii is the 50th State in the United States of America and as such includes almost the entire Hawaiian Island Chain.  There are hundreds of island in the chain, but the main islands are Oahu, Hawaii, Lanai, Maui, Kauai, Molokai, Kahoolawe, and Niihau.  The main island of Hawaii has always been known as "the big island".  The state of Hawaii is the only American State completed surrounded by water. 
 
It is stunningly beautiful. On the big island, Mount Kea reaches almost 14,000 ft and the high volcanic mountains of the Na Pali coast on Kauai, drop gracefully into the turquoise sea.  The Hawaiian Islands grew from the volcanic "hot spots" beneath the sea and even since the beginning of recorded history, native Hawaiians have experienced many volcanic eruptions. 
 
The early peoples of Hawaii are believed to have been Polynesians from the islands of the mountainous Marquesas, and later, the Society Islands of Raiatea and Bora Bora over one thousand years ago. The distance was great, but the Polynesians then and now have a great understanding of the ocean currents. They've studied the ripples in the waves and navigated by them. They understood the winds and the night sky. They also built very sturdy canoes. It is believed thousands of brave Polynesians took to the sea and made there way north to the Hawaii islands ... a very great distance and to an unknown land. Returning was not an option in most cases and the journey would have included whole families. 
 
It is widely believed that in the late 18th century James Cook, British sea captain and explorer came to these islands and was the Hawaiians first Contact with the outside world, but it has also been reordered that the Irish discovered it earlier and the Spanish.  Fifty years after Captain Cook's visit, Hawaii was recognized internationally as an independent country. It was a Kingdom with a Royal Family, but in the late 19th century there was a coupe by the natives and the monarchy dissolved. For the next few years it was a republic, soon to become a territory for the United States and finally in 1959, it became a state in the Union.