The one hundred and thirty seven islands, islets and shoals that make up the Hawaiian Island chain sit at the northern tip of the Polynesian Triangle, an expanse of ocean roughly the size of Europe and North America combined. As one of the most geographically isolated, continuously populated spots on Earth, Hawaii is a land of many contrasts.



Hawaii, the largest of the Hawaiian Islands, is nicknamed The Big Island because it is twice the combined size of the other islands.

Big Island has an area of more than four thousand square miles with nearly three hundred miles of coastline, ninety three miles long by seventy six miles wide. Big Island is located in Polynesia near the centre of the Pacific Ocean just below the Tropic of Cancer one of the most remote spots on Earth.

The population had a resident population of 162,971 in 2004. It is the second most populous island in the State. Approximately 1.5 million visitors visited in 2005.

The first visitors to the Islands of Hawaii came not knowing what to expect or even that the Islands existed. It is generally believed Hawaiis first permanent inhabitants sailed in voyaging canoes from the southern hemisphere islands of the Marquesas, between 300 and 800 A.D. Later waves of settlers arrived by the 12th century, this time from Tahiti.

All Hawaiian Islands have a dry side and a wet side. The windward east side of each island attracts more annual rainfall. The leeward west side is always the drier area of the island.

The Big Island has a wide variety of plant, marine and animal life. Many species are rare and endangered including the giant Pacific Green Sea Turtle, the Nene Goose and the Humpback Whale. Vegetation zones include coastal, dry land forest, mixed open forest, rain forest and alpine.

The economy was healthy in 2006. Key indicators are positive for continuing growth in the second half of this decade. However, Hawaiis cost of living is among the highest in the nation and its 2004 per capita personal income below average. In fact, sources indicate a cost of living ranging from 30 percent above the national average to over 60 percent depending upon family size and circumstances.

Big Island was formed by five volcanoes. Two are still active Mauna Loa and Kilauea, the worlds most continuously active volcano. At 13,796 feet and 13,677 feet respectively, Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa are the highest mountains in the Pacific.