Situated on the mid-Pacific Ocean, the Hawaii Islands is the U.S. westernmost state separated from the mainland by about 3,200 kilometers of ocean.

The eight major islands - Oahu, Maui, Kauai, the Big Island, Lanai, Molokai, Niihau, Kahoolawe, and over 100 small islets of Hawaii lie upon the northwest Pacific to southeast Pacific Ocean. These islands, like a chain of beads, spread across more than 2,575 kilometers long.

Oahu is the third largest and most populated island in the Hawaiian chain.

Although Hawaii Islands is located in the tropical zone, its climate is comfortable because of the ocean currents that pass its shores and the trade winds that blow across the land from the northeast. The annual average temperature is about 24°C (75°F).

Hawaii is located in Hawaii-Aleutian Time Zone, which is two hours behind Pacific Standard Time and five hours behind Eastern Standard Time.

Daylight Saving Time (DST) is not applied in Hawaii Islands, therefore, an extra hour should be added to the above time differences between April and October.

Population: Based on U.S. Bureau of the Census estimate, April 2000 U.S., July 1999 Hawaii State and its major counties population are as follows:

Ethnic groups: Based on U.S. Bureau of the Census 1996 estimate, White 33.5%, Asian and Pacific Islanders 63.0%. Pure Hawaiian people total about 10,000 in Hawaii State (1992 estimate). However, The mixed ethnic group, some with part Hawaiian ancestry, is the largest group in Hawaii.

Languages: English and Hawaiian are the two official state languages.