|
Described by Mark Twain as "the loveliest fleet of islands that lies anchored in any ocean," the State of Hawai‘i encompasses a string of 137 islands in the north central Pacific Ocean about 2,400 miles from the west coast of the continental United States. The 2nd Congressional District of Hawai‘i includes the Islands of Hawai‘i, Maui, Kaho‘olawe, Moloka‘i, Lana‘i, O‘ahu (Windward, North Shore, Central, Leeward), Kaua‘i, and Ni‘ihau, and the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands.
The Land. Formed by volcanic activity over a period of 70 million years, the Hawaiian Islands contain an endless variety of peaks, valleys, ridges, and broad slopes. Many of these volcanoes formed islands that have subsided and eroded beneath sea level, and some of the old volcanoes probably never reached sea level.
Flora & Fauna. The Hawaiian archipelago is home to a wide variety of plants and animals, some of which exist only in Hawai‘i. Because of geographic isolation of the island chain and the small population size of most of the indigenous flora and fauna, it is the home of hundreds of endangered or threatened plants and animal. There are more endangered
species
per square mile on these islands than any other place on
the planet.
Tourism. The travel and tourism sector is still Hawai‘i's largest economic driver. It accounts for approximately 26% of the Gross State Product and more than 30% of all jobs. Major tourist destinations in the Second Congressional District include Volcanoes National Park, Hale‘akala National Park, the Polynesian Cultural Center, and Waimea Canyon. For more information about visiting tourist locations in the 2nd Congressional District, please visit the official online home of the Hawai‘i Visitors and Convention Bureau.
Department of Defense. The Department of Defense is one of the largest employers in Hawai‘i and plays an important role in the local economy. The following major military installations are located in the 2nd Congressional District: Marine Corps Base Hawai‘i (Kaneohe Bay), Schofield Barracks, Pohakuloa Training Range, and the Pacific Missile Range Facility.
State and Local Government. There are two levels of government in Hawai'i - state and county. The state government is modeled after the national government. It has an executive branch, a two-chamber legislature, and a judicial branch. The five counties perform most services usually assigned to cities and towns (fire protection, police, refuse collection, construction, and maintenance of streets and other public works).
Additional Facts About Hawai‘i
State Motto: "Ua mau ke ea o ka
aina i ka pono" (The
life of the land is
perpetuated in righteousness) State Bird: Nene (branta sandwicensis) State Marine Mammal: Humpback Whale (megaptera novaeangliae) State Fish: Humuhumunukunuku apua‘a (rhinecanthus rectangulus) State Flower: HibiscusState Tree: Kuku‘i State Gem: Black coral
Admitted To
The Union:
August 21, 1959 (the
50th state)
Population: 1.2 million (2000 Census estimate) Median Age: 36.2 years Population Density: 189 persons per square mile Number of Households: 403,240 Official Languages: English and Hawaiian Geographic Area: 10,932 square miles Land Area: 6,423 square miles Water Area: 4,508 square miles Number of Islands: 132 islands Number of Populated Islands: 7 islands Highest Point: 13,796 feet (Mauna Kea) Mean Elevation: 3,030 feet Gross State Product (2000): $39.1 billion Overnight Visitors (2000): 6,948,595 Visitor Expenditures (2000): $10.9 billion Wettest Place: Waialeale, on Kaua‘i, is the wettest spot on earth, with an average of 397 inches of rain each year.
For more information about Hawai‘i,
please visit the following webpages:
|
||||
|
|
Washington DC Office
115 Cannon HOB, Washington D.C. 20515, 202-225-4906 (tel), 202-225-4987 (fax)
Honolulu Office
5104 Prince Kuhio Fed. Bldg., Honolulu, HI 96850, 808-541-1986 (tel), 808-538-0233
(fax)
Electronic Mail
http://www.house.gov/writerep/
and ed.case@mail.house.gov
Sign up to receive my E-Newsletter
Last Updated: 04/24/2006