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Although I have
never been to Hawaii, I have always been fascinated by its beautiful
beaches, volcanos and culture. |
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Hawaii
consists of a group of volcanic islands in the central Pacific
Ocean. The capital is the city of Honolulu, on the island of
Oahu.
The
name Hawaii is thought to derive from Hawaiki, the former name
of Raiatea, one of the Society Islands, from which Polynesians
sailed in voyaging canoes to settle after AD 1000. On August
21, 1959, Hawaii became the 50th U.S. state. |
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The
land area of the state of Hawaii consists of the tops of a chain
of emerged volcanic mountains that form eight major islands and
124 islets.
The
eight major islands at the eastern end of the chain are, from
west to east, Niihau, Kauai, Oahu, Molokai, Lanai, Kahoolawe,
Maui, and Hawaii.
This
picture was taken by my sister in Oahu, in June 2003.
Volcanic
activity has become dormant, with the exception of the volcanoes
of Mauna Loa and Kilauea, located on largest island, Hawaii,
where spectacular eruptions and lava flows take place from time
to time.
Most
anthropologists believe that the original settlement of Hawaii
was by Polynesians who migrated northwest from the Marquesas
Islands, perhaps as early as AD 400, to be followed by a second
wave of immigration that sailed from Tahiti during the 9th or
10th century.
The
first recorded contact between the Hawaiians and Europeans took
place in 1778, when Captain James Cook came upon the islands. |
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This
picture was taken by my sister in June 2003.
The
dance known as hula was used by ancient Hawaiians to pass along
the stories and legends of their culture to the youngest generations.
It was developed in the Hawaiian Islands by their original Polynesian
settlers. Hula kahiko, or ancient hula, uses dance and chanting
to relate the proud and somber history, customs, ceremonies and
traditions of ancient Hawaii and her people. Hula auwana, or
modern hula, is the dance form most people are familiar with,
combining dance and music for a more playful, joyous and spirited
recounting of contemporary life in the islands. |
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