At the tip of the Polynesian triangle
Even if Hawaii seems, seen on a map, to be in the middle of nowhere, it is part of a coherent whole in the Pacific Ocean which includes three island areas: Micronesia, Melanesia and French Polynesia. They are distinguished by different civilizations and by the date of arrival of their first inhabitants. Hawaii is the northern tip of this 10,000 km triangle that links New Zealand and Easter Island. A formidable expanse, whose first inhabitants are all Polynesians. Polynesia is indeed a geographical, ethnic and cultural entity, French Polynesia is only an administrative name: they should not be confused! Hawaii, French Polynesia, New Zealand, Easter Island (under Chilean control), Cook Islands (protected by New Zealand) are part of what is called Western Polynesia. Wallis and Futuna (another French overseas territory), Tuvalu, Tokelau, Tonga, Western Samoa, American Samoa and Niue form Eastern Polynesia
The Hawaiian archipelago: the must-sees
The eight main islands are, from north to south: Niihau, Kauai, Oahu, Molokai, Lanai, Kahoolawe, Maui and Hawai'i Island. Most American visitors with very little annual leave limit their stay to the island of Oahu and a visit to Honolulu. At 1,574 square miles, it is the third largest Hawaiian island. It is the capital of the state, Honolulu, and thus the heart of the economic life of the archipelago. The rest of the island is still preserved and little urbanized. Located southeast of Kauai and northwest of Maui, Oahu is centrally located and convenient for visiting the other islands. Its most famous sites are the beautiful Waikiki Beach, the Pearl Harbor Memorial and the North Shore, where the World Surfing Championships are held. Film lovers will also find many filming locations for the Lost series and Jurassic Park movies.
The second most visited island is Hawai'i, also called Big Island. Not surprisingly, its surface area of 10,461 km2, puts it at the top of the podium of the largest islands of Hawaii. Located in the extreme southeast of the island chain, it is the youngest (800,000 years old) and the only one to have an active volcano, Kilauea. And this is the least we can say because this volcano is one of the most active on the planet. Its eruption was continuous since 1983 with peaks of activity in 2017, which was marked by significant lava flows and, especially in 2018, with a strong eruption that led to significant destruction around the caldera, including that of the famous Thomas H. Jagger Museum, but also of the surrounding homes. Finally, even if the volcano is no longer erupting since the end of 2018, a first since 1983, it remains active and can awaken again at any time. No wonder 2.5 million visitors come to Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park every year!
The Hawaiian Archipelago: the wild islands
Often booked for a second trip, the island of Maui has nothing to envy to its colleagues. With an area of 1,887 km2, Maui is the second largest island in the archipelago. It is located in the northwest of Hawai'i, where it can be seen from the coast on a clear day. It was formed by two volcanoes that rose from the sea 2 million years ago: West Maui, to the west, and Haleakala, to the east. It has been nicknamed "Valley Island" because a large valley connects these two volcanoes. The landscapes of the eastern part of the island are lush and wild... To realize this, you just have to drive the winding and exceptionally beautiful "Hana road". However, the favorite of the French is Kauai, the wildest. With its 1,432 km2 of surface area, this island, located at the very north of the island chain and northwest of Oahu, is the fourth largest. It has been dubbed the "Garden Island" because of its lush vegetation, high forest and the incredibly waterfall-sculpted coastline of Na Pali. Mount Waialeale, its highest point, is considered the wettest point on the planet, on an island where the rainfall rate is about 7,500 cm3 per year! It is easy to understand how the astonishing relief of Waimea Canyon, often called "the Grand Canyon of the Pacific", has been carved out by water for thousands of years
The Hawaiian Archipelago: the wild islands
Often booked for a second trip, the island of Maui has nothing to envy to its colleagues. With an area of 1,887 km2, Maui is the second largest island in the archipelago. It is located in the northwest of Hawai'i, where it can be seen from the coast on a clear day. It was formed by two volcanoes that rose from the sea 2 million years ago: West Maui, to the west, and Haleakala, to the east. It has been nicknamed "Valley Island" because a large valley connects these two volcanoes. The landscapes of the eastern part of the island are lush and wild... To realize this, you just have to drive the winding and exceptionally beautiful "Hana road". However, the favorite of the French is Kauai, the wildest. With its 1,432 km2 of surface area, this island, located at the very north of the island chain and northwest of Oahu, is the fourth largest. It has been dubbed the "Garden Island" because of its lush vegetation, high forest and the incredibly waterfall-sculpted coastline of Na Pali. Mount Waialeale, its highest point, is considered the wettest point on the planet, on an island where the rainfall rate is about 7,500 cm3 per year! It is easy to understand how the astonishing relief of Waimea Canyon, often called "the Grand Canyon of the Pacific", has been carved out by water for thousands of years
The Hawaiian archipelago: the discreet islands
Those who have the pleasure of staying longer on the archipelago will have the pleasure of discovering Lanai and Molokai. To the southwest of Maui, Lanai, with its 362 km2, is the smallest of the islands that can be visited. It was named "Pineapple Island" because it was primarily, from the 19th to the 20th century, a plantation land for the Dole Company. Since the bankruptcy of this industry, the island lives mainly from luxury tourism. Finally, if Lanai has, like the other Hawaiian islands, very beautiful beaches, it is one of the rare islands to have a pine forest and a desert plateau! North of Maui and east of Oahu, Molokai, with an area of 673 km2, is the fifth largest island of the archipelago. Its population, mainly composed of native Hawaiians (i.e. of Polynesian origin) as well as its very preserved landscapes, earned it the nickname of "the most authentic island". Travelers love it for its wilderness, which lends itself particularly well to hiking, but also for its immense and beautiful beaches. Its most visited site is the village of Kalaupapa, located on the peninsula of the same name, where the lepers of the archipelago were exiled. Finally, only the most experienced will make it to the most secret island: Nihau. Near Kauai, Niihau, although populated, only opens a tiny part of its island to tourists (Niihau Beach) and only within the framework of the services of a single tourist agency. This island, private since the 19th century, belongs to the Robinson family. Nothing to do with Robinson Crusoe, but it is a bit the same concept! Niihau has a population of barely 200 inhabitants. Its inhabitants live by fishing and breeding, without electricity or running water, in order to preserve the traditional Hawaiian way of life.
The Hawaiian archipelago: the discreet islands
Those who have the pleasure of staying longer on the archipelago will have the pleasure of discovering Lanai and Molokai. To the southwest of Maui, Lanai, with its 362 km2, is the smallest of the islands that can be visited. It was named "Pineapple Island" because it was primarily, from the 19th to the 20th century, a plantation land for the Dole Company. Since the bankruptcy of this industry, the island lives mainly from luxury tourism. Finally, if Lanai has, like the other Hawaiian islands, very beautiful beaches, it is one of the rare islands to have a pine forest and a desert plateau! North of Maui and east of Oahu, Molokai, with an area of 673 km2, is the fifth largest island of the archipelago. Its population, mainly composed of native Hawaiians (i.e. of Polynesian origin) as well as its very preserved landscapes, earned it the nickname of "the most authentic island". Travelers love it for its wilderness, which lends itself particularly well to hiking, but also for its immense and beautiful beaches. Its most visited site is the village of Kalaupapa, located on the peninsula of the same name, where the lepers of the archipelago were exiled. Finally, only the most experienced will make it to the most secret island: Nihau. Near Kauai, Niihau, although populated, only opens a tiny part of its island to tourists (Niihau Beach) and only within the framework of the services of a single tourist agency. This island, private since the 19th century, belongs to the Robinson family. Nothing to do with Robinson Crusoe, but it is a bit the same concept! Niihau has a population of barely 200 inhabitants. Its inhabitants live by fishing and breeding, without electricity or running water, in order to preserve the traditional Hawaiian way of life.
