An archipelago in the mid-Pacific, and thus commonly included in Oceania, it lies southwest of the North American mainland, and south of Alaska.[2] Hawaiʻi is the southernmost state of the United States; it would be the westernmost, if not for Alaska. It is one of only two states (Alaska is the other) that are outside the contiguous United States, and do not share a border with another U.S. state.Hawaiʻi is the only state of the United States that
is without territory on the mainland of any continent
is completely surrounded by water, and
continues to grow in area because of active extrusive lava flows, most notably from Kilauea (Kīlauea).
is entirely in the tropics.
Na Pali coast, Kauai
Except for Easter Island, Hawaiʻi is farther away from land than any other landmass on Earth. Hawaiʻi’s tallest mountain, Mauna Kea stands over 13,000 feet (4,000 meters) and is taller than Mount Everest if followed to its base at the floor of the Pacific Ocean.The Hawaiian Archipelago comprises hundreds of islands and atolls extending across a distance of 1,500 miles (2,400 km). Of these, the eight largest islands are considered the "main islands" and are located at the southeastern end of the archipelago. These islands are, in order from the northwest to southeast, Niʻihau, Kauaʻi, Oʻahu, Molokaʻi, Lānaʻi, Kahoʻolawe, Maui, and Hawaiʻi. The latter is by far the largest, and is very often called the "Big Island" or "Big Isle" to avoid confusion with the state name.
Map of Hawaii
All of the Hawaiian Islands were formed by volcanoes arising from the sea floor from a magma source described in geological theory as a hotspot. The theory maintains that as the tectonic plate beneath much of the Pacific Ocean moves in a northwesterly direction, the hot spot remains stationary, slowly creating new volcanoes. This explains why only volcanoes on the southern half of the Big Island, and the Loihi Seamount (Lōʻihi) deep below the waters off its southern coast, are presently active, with Loʻihi being the newest volcano to form.The last volcanic eruption outside the Big Island happened at Haleakalā on Maui in the late 18th century (though recent research suggests that Haleakalā's most recent eruptive activity could be hundreds of years older).
The volcanic activity and subsequent erosion created impressive geological features. The Big Island is notable as the world’s fifth highest island. If Mauna Kea is measured from its base, deep in the ocean, to its snow-clad peak it is the tallest mountain on the Earth.[4]
Because of the islands' volcanic formation, native life before human activity is said to have arrived by the "3 W's": wind (carried through the air), waves (brought by ocean currents), and wings (birds, insects, and whatever they brought with them). The isolation of the Hawaiian Islands in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, and the wide range of environments to be found on high islands located in and near the tropic, has resulted in a vast array of endemic flora and fauna. Hawaiʻi has more endangered species per square mile and has lost a higher percent of its endemic species than anywhere else on Earth.[citation needed]
