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OAHU (Honolulu & Waikiki)
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The Hawaiian Islands (Hawaiian: Mokupuni Hawaiʻi) are an archipelago of eight major volcanic islands, several atolls, and numerous smaller islets in the North Pacific Ocean, extending some 1,500 miles (2,400 kilometers) from the island of Hawaiʻi in the south to northernmost Kure Atoll. Formerly called the Sandwich Islands by Europeans, the present name for the archipelago is derived from the name of its largest island, Hawaiʻi.

The archipelago sits on the Pacific plate. The islands are exposed peaks of a great undersea mountain range known as the Hawaiian–Emperor seamount chain, formed by volcanic activity over the Hawaiian hotspot. The islands are about 1,860 miles (3,000 km) from the nearest continent and are part of the Polynesia subregion of Oceania.

The U.S. state of Hawaii occupies the archipelago almost in its entirety (including the mostly uninhabited Northwestern Hawaiian Islands), with the sole exception of Midway Atoll (a United States Minor Outlying Island). Hawaii is the only U.S. state that is situated entirely on an archipelago, and the only state not geographically connected with North America. The Northwestern islands (sometimes called the Leeward Islands) and surrounding seas are protected as a national monument and World Heritage Site


Island
Nickname
Area
sq ml
Population
in 2020
Density
sq ml
Highest point
Height
feet
metres
  Hawaiʻi
The Big Island
4,028.0 
200,629
49.8
13,796
4,205
  Hawaii Island is over 4,000 square miles, encompasses 63% of the Hawaiian archipelago’s combined landmass and is the largest   island in the United States. The island has five volcanoes, including sacred dormant volcano Mauna Kea.
  Maui
The Valley Isle
727.2 
164,221
225.8
10,023 
3,055
  The second largest island, Maui is divided by two mountain ranges - the Haleakala and West Maui Mountains. Maui is well known   for its tourist attractions, such as Haleakala National Park and the Road to Hana.
  Oʻahu
The Gathering Place
596.7 
1,016,508
1,703.50
4,003 
1,220
  Oahu has the highest population count in the state and is home to the majority of Hawaiian residents. The island is home to the city   of Honolulu, Hawaii’s state capital.
  Kauaʻi
The Garden Isle
552.3 
73,298
132.7
5,243
1,598
  Kauaʻi earns its nickname name for its lush foliage, valleys and jungles. With lots of precipitation and undeveloped land, nature   flourishes, making it home to several botanical gardens.
  Molokaʻi
The Friendly Isle
260.0 
7,345
28.3
4,961 
1,512
  Molokai has the highest percentage of native Hawaiians and is believed to be where the hula began. It is known under several   names by the local population: Molokaʻi ʻĀina Momona (land of abundance), Molokaʻi Pule Oʻo (powerful prayer) and Molokaʻi Nui   A Hina (of the goddess Hina). It has also been called “The Friendly Isle.”
  Lānaʻi
The Pineapple Isle
140.5 
3,367
24
3,366 
1,026
  Lanai once produced 75% of the world’s exported pineapples.
  Niʻihau
The Forbidden Isle
69.5 
84
1.2
1,250 
381
  With a population of roughly 200 people, the island of Niihau has become known as “The Forbidden Isle.”
  Kahoʻolawe
The Target Isle
44.6 
0
0
Puʻu Moaulanui
1,483 
452 
  Kahoolawe was used by the United States military during World War II. Today, the island is still prohibited to the public.