The six tourist-friendly islands of Hawaii each have their own unique identity.
Though eight different islands comprise the state of Hawaii, each island has its own unique identity, characteristics and attractions. Due to the diversity of the islands, the six Hawaiian islands tourists can visit have each acquired a unique nickname describing a particular attribute that makes each island famous. The other two islands, Kahoolawe and Niihau, cannot be visited by tourists.
Hawaii
The largest island in the state of Hawaii appropriately earned the nickname "Big Island." The youngest Hawaiian island is not only the largest--it is in fact still growing. The growth of the island is a result of the active volcanoes on the island, particularly Kilauea, the world's most active volcano.
Maui
The second largest Hawaiian island is known as "Valley Isle." The island is known for its large valley, which is home to various vegetation. A scenic drive on the Road to Hana, complete with 54 bridges and 600 different curves, features extensive views of the valley and its greenery.
Oahu
"The Gathering Place" is the third largest and the most populated of all the Hawaiian islands. The capital of the state, Honolulu, is located on Oahu, drawing in a large population of people. Furthermore, Waikiki, Pearl Harbor and various restaurants and nightlife attract a large amount of tourists.
Kauai
The fourth largest island is nicknamed the "Garden Isle" because of the vast amount of plant life on the island. The island is the oldest of the Hawaiian islands and features various rainforests and waterfalls. Some locations on Kauai are accessible only by air or water. Views of the island's famous vegetation can be seen by hiking, snorkeling, kayaking and zip-lining.
Molokai
Known as the "Friendly Isle" because of its high percentage of indigenous people, Molokai is the second smallest Hawaiian island. The large indigenous population preserves the traditional Hawaiian culture throughout the island; in fact, Molokai has no traffic lights. The traditional culture combined with a lack of modern stress led to its nickname.
Lanai
The smallest Hawaiian island is known as "Pineapple Island." James Dole purchased the 16-mile-wide island in 1922 for $1.1 million. He created a plantation and began exporting canned pineapple throughout the world. At one point, Lanai was responsible for exporting 75 percent of the world's pineapple. However, in the 1980s, the pineapple business on Lanai began to decline.
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