Hawaii is a group of islands situated in the northern Pacific Ocean, about 2,400 mi (3,900 km) WSW of San Francisco. It is the smallest of the five Pacific states, ranking 47th in size among the 50 states.

There are 132 Hawaiian Islands covering a total area of 6,470 sq mi (16,758 sq km), including 6,425 sq mi (16,641 sq km) of land and only 45 sq mi (117 sq km) of inland water. The island chain extends over 1,576 mi (2,536 km) N-S and 1,425 mi (2,293 km) E-W. Hawaii is the largest of all the islands with a total area of 4,035 sq miles while Oahu is the most populous one covering an area of 617 sq miles. Other islands are Maui (734 sq mi—1,901 sq km), Kauai (558 sq mi—1,445 sq km), Molokai (264 sq mi—684 sq km), Lanai (141 sq mi—365 sq km), Niihau (73 sq mi—189 sq km), and Kahoolawe (45 sq mi—117 sq km).

Hawaii draws thousands of tourists each year not only because of its pleasant climate but also because of its warm and friendly people – the Aloha spirit. Innumerable outdoor activities attract tourists from all over the world but it is primarily known as the birthplace of hula and surfing. Other than it lovely sunny beaches, Hawaii has some beautiful structures like the USS Arizona Memorial built over the remains of the sunken battleship USS Arizona, the final resting place for many of the 1,177 crewmen killed on December 7, 1941 when their ship was bombed by the Japanese Naval Forces. National Cemetery of the Pacific and the Bernice P. Bishop Museum in Honolulu are other important attractions. The Hawaii Volcanoes National Park reflects 70 million years of volcanism, migration and evolution. The Polynesian Cultural Center in Laie showcases seven Polynesian cultures.