Miles and miles of beaches with sand ranging in hue from sugary white to red, green and jet black. The only royal palace in the United States. A perfect climate caressed by trade winds. A rich mosaic of people where every race is a minority. Deserts, rain forests, snow and coral reefs. A kingdom, republic, territory and finally, a state.

Hawaii, the necklace of islands Mark Twain called the "Most beautiful anchored in any ocean," continues to draw millions of visitors destined to be enchanted by the unique character and beauty each island shares with a generosity matched only by her people.

The eight major islands that make up what the ancient Polynesians called "The heavenly homeland of the north" – Hawaii (The Big Island), Kaho'olawe, Maui, Lanai, Molokai, Oahu, Kauai and Ni'ihau - were created by millions of years of volcanic activity. Eons separate the evolution of the sister islands, giving each a unique character and landscape. Yet as singular as each island is, all exude a special mana, or spirit, that collectively makes Hawaii a place like no other in the world.