Hawaii Popular Books
Hawaii Biography & Facts
Hawaii ( hə-WY-ee; Hawaiian: Hawaiʻi [həˈvɐjʔi, həˈwɐjʔi]) is an island state of the United States, in the Pacific Ocean about 2,000 miles (3,200 km) southwest of the U.S. mainland. It is the only state not on the North American mainland, the only state that is an archipelago, and the only state in the tropics. Hawaii consists of 137 volcanic islands that comprise almost the entire Hawaiian archipelago (the exception, which is outside the state, is Midway Atoll). Spanning 1,500 miles (2,400 km), the state is physiographically and ethnologically part of the Polynesian subregion of Oceania. Hawaii's ocean coastline is consequently the fourth-longest in the U.S., at about 750 miles (1,210 km). The eight main islands, from northwest to southeast, are Niʻihau, Kauaʻi, Oʻahu, Molokaʻi, Lānaʻi, Kahoʻolawe, Maui, and Hawaiʻi, after which the state is named; the latter is often called the "Big Island" or "Hawaii Island" to avoid confusion with the state or archipelago. The uninhabited Northwestern Hawaiian Islands make up most of the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument, the largest protected area in the U.S. and the fourth-largest in the world. Of the 50 U.S. states, Hawaii is the eighth-smallest in land area and the 11th-least populous; but with 1.4 million residents, it ranks 13th in population density. Two-thirds of Hawaii residents live on O'ahu, home to the state's capital and largest city, Honolulu. Hawaii is among the country's most diverse states, owing to its central location in the Pacific and over two centuries of migration. As one of only six majority-minority states, it has the only Asian American plurality, the largest Buddhist community, and largest proportion of multiracial people in the U.S. Consequently, Hawaii is a unique melting pot of North American and East Asian cultures, in addition to its indigenous Hawaiian heritage. Settled by Polynesians sometime between 1000 and 1200 CE, Hawaii was home to numerous independent chiefdoms. In 1778, British explorer James Cook was the first known non-Polynesian to arrive at the archipelago; early British influence is reflected in the state flag, which bears a Union Jack. An influx of European and American explorers, traders, and whalers soon arrived, leading to the decimation of the once-isolated indigenous community through the introduction of diseases such as syphilis, tuberculosis, smallpox, and measles; the native Hawaiian population declined from between 300,000 and one million to less than 40,000 by 1890. Hawaii became a unified, internationally recognized kingdom in 1810, remaining independent until American and European businessmen overthrew the monarchy in 1893; this led to annexation by the U.S. in 1898. As a strategically valuable U.S. territory, Hawaii was attacked by Japan on December 7, 1941, which brought it global and historical significance, and contributed to America's entry into World War II. Hawaii is the most recent state to join the union, on August 21, 1959. In 1993, the U.S. government formally apologized for its role in the overthrow of Hawaii's government, which had spurred the Hawaiian sovereignty movement and has led to ongoing efforts to obtain redress for the indigenous population. Historically dominated by a plantation economy, Hawaii remains a major agricultural exporter due to its fertile soil and uniquely tropical climate in the U.S. Its economy has gradually diversified since the mid-20th century, with tourism and military defense becoming the two largest sectors. The state attracts visitors, surfers, and scientists with its diverse natural scenery, warm tropical climate, abundant public beaches, oceanic surroundings, active volcanoes, and clear skies on the Big Island. Hawaii hosts the United States Pacific Fleet, the world's largest naval command, as well as 75,000 employees of the Defense Department. Hawaii's isolation results in one of the highest costs of living in the U.S. However, Hawaii is the third-wealthiest state, and residents have the longest life expectancy of any U.S. state, at 80.7 years. Etymology The State of Hawaii derives its name from the name of its largest island, Hawaiʻi. A common explanation of the name of Hawaiʻi is that it was named for Hawaiʻiloa, a figure from Hawaiian oral tradition. He is said to have discovered the islands when they were first settled. The Hawaiian language word Hawaiʻi is very similar to Proto-Polynesian Sawaiki, with the reconstructed meaning "homeland." Cognates of Hawaiʻi are found in other Polynesian languages, including Māori (Hawaiki), Rarotongan (ʻAvaiki) and Samoan (Savaiʻi). According to linguists Pukui and Elbert, "elsewhere in Polynesia, Hawaiʻi or a cognate is the name of the underworld or of the ancestral home, but in Hawaii, the name has no meaning". Spelling of state name In 1978, Hawaiian was added to the Constitution of the State of Hawaii as an official state language alongside English. The title of the state constitution is The Constitution of the State of Hawaii. Article XV, Section 1 of the Constitution uses The State of Hawaii. Diacritics were not used because the document, drafted in 1949, predates the use of the ʻokina ⟨ʻ⟩ and the kahakō in modern Hawaiian orthography. The exact spelling of the state's name in the Hawaiian language is Hawaiʻi. In the Hawaii Admission Act that granted Hawaiian statehood, the federal government used Hawaii for the state name. Official government publications, department and office titles, and the Seal of Hawaii use the traditional spelling with no symbols for glottal stops or vowel length. Geography and environment There are eight main Hawaiian islands. Seven are inhabited, but only six are open to tourists and locals. Niʻihau is privately managed by brothers Bruce and Keith Robinson; access is restricted to those who have their permission. This island is also home to native Hawaiians. Access to uninhabited Kahoʻolawe island is also restricted and anyone who enters without permission will be arrested. This island may also be dangerous since it was a military base during the world wars and could still have unexploded ordnance. Topography The Hawaiian archipelago is 2,000 mi (3,200 km) southwest of the contiguous United States. Hawaii is the southernmost U.S. state and the second westernmost after Alaska. Like Alaska, Hawaii borders no other U.S. state. It is the only U.S. state not in North America, and the only one completely surrounded by water and entirely an archipelago. In addition to the eight main islands, the state has many smaller islands and islets. Kaʻula is a small island near Niʻihau. The Northwestern Hawaiian Islands is a group of nine small, older islands northwest of Kauaʻi that extends from Nihoa to Kure Atoll; these are remnants of once much larger volcanic mountains. Across the archipelago are around 130 small rocks and islets, such as Molokini, which are made up of either volcanic or marine sedimentary rock. Hawaiʻi's tallest mountain Ma.... Discover the Hawaii popular books. Find the top 100 most popular Hawaii books.
Best Seller Hawaii Books of 2024
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Hawaii
Cameron, Brooks160 pages of the most beautiful aerial photos of Oahu captured on over 300 helicopter flights by master photographer Cameron Brooks
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Texas Sunrise
Fern Michaels“A stunning and emotional conclusion to the story of a family that readers have come to care for and love” from the #1 bestselling author of Texas Fury (Los Angeles Daily News). ...
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The House of Pride, and Other Tales of Hawaii
Jack LondonThis is a short stories all taking place in Hawaii. Stories include The house of pride Koolau the leper Goodby, Jack Aloha oe Chun Ah Chun The sheriff of Kona Jack London.
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Hawaii
Cheri MerwinThis book is written by a group of second graders. They voted on the topic and chapter subjects. They worked very hard as they researched, typed, and edited this book. Enjoy what t...
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Song of the Exile
Kiana DavenportIn this epic, original novel in which Hawaii's fierce, sweeping past springs to life, Kiana Davenport, author of the acclaimed Shark Dialogues, draws upon the remarkable stories of...
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Her Last Flight
Beatriz WilliamsOne of Summer’s Most Anticipated Reads, according to Goodreads, SheReads, and Bookish“I think Beatriz Williams is writing the best historical fiction out there. It’s lush with peri...
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Hazard in Hawaii
Heather SilvioOne man is dead, boiled alive by an unexplained feverillness. He is just the first.When locals fall ill on the Big Island of Hawai‘i, a team with a reputation for solving unusual c...
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The Flight Girls
Noelle SalazarA USA TODAY BESTSELLERA PUBLISHERS WEEKLY BESTSELLER“I read well into the night, unable to stop. The book is unputdownable.”Debbie Macomber, #1 New York Times bestselling author“He...
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Barbarian Days
William FinneganWinner of the 2016 Pulitzer Prize for AutobiographyIncluded in President Obama’s 2016 Summer Reading List“Without a doubt, the finest surf book I’ve ever read . . . ” ...
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Hawaii
Rita AriyoshiWith this beautifully illustrated guidebook's extensive information for offthebeatenpath and authentic spots on each Hawaiian island, you'll be able to plan your next visit to Hawa...
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Fluke
Christopher Moore“Readers new to the work of Christopher Moore will want to know two things immediately. First: Where has this guy been hiding? (Answer: In plain sight, since he has a cult followin...
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Reckless Girls
Rachel HawkinsInstant New York Times and USA Today bestsellerIndie Next Pick and LibraryReads PickFrom Rachel Hawkins, the New York Times bestselling author of The Wife Upstairs, comes a delicio...
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Runaway Groom
Lauren LayneFor one charming playboy, getting cast on a Bacheloresque reality TV show is the shock of a lifetimeuntil he finds love where he least expects it. And now the chase is on!“Romantic...
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Ten Thousand Hours in Paradise
Andrew M. CrusoeThe inspiring true story of one writer’s wild adventure into the gems and perils of the Big Island of Hawaii, a blue feather as his only talisman. Wild sea turtles, black sand bea...
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Plant Over Processed
Andrea HannemannA NATIONAL BESTSELLER!Trust in nature. Believe in balance. Eat the rainbow! Andrea Hannemann, aka Earthy Andy, presents a guide to plantbased eating that is simple, delicious, and ...
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The Descendants
Kaui Hart HemmingsNarrated in a bold, fearless, unforgettable voice and set against the lush, panoramic backdrop of Hawaii, The Descendants is a stunning debut novel about an unconventiona...
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Hawaii 2013
Jason MerlinoHawaii has many interesting, historical and unique sites. Get a small taste of some of the best and most popular attractions to visit on your holiday in Hawaii.
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Red Sky Over Hawaii
Sara AckermanInspired by real places and events of WWII, Red Sky Over Hawaii immerses the reader in a time of American history full of suspicion and peril in this lush and poignant tale about t...
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Still See You Everywhere
Lisa GardnerFrom #1 New York Times bestselling author Lisa Gardner comes a harrowing new thriller: Frankie Elkin is an expert at finding the missing persons that the rest of the world has forg...
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Eruption
Michael Crichton & James PattersonThe biggest thriller of 2024: A historymaking eruption is about to destroy the Hawaii’s Main Island. But a secret held for decades by the military is far more terrifying than any v...
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Unfamiliar Fishes
Sarah VowellFrom the author of Lafayette in the Somewhat United States, an examination of Hawaii, the place where Manifest Destiny got a sunburn.Many think of 1776 as the defining year of Amer...
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Cloud Atlas
David MitchellBy the New York Times bestselling author of The Bone Clocks | Shortlisted for the Man Booker PrizeA postmodern visionary and one of the leading voices in twentyfirstcentury fiction...
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Micro
Michael Crichton & Richard PrestonIn the vein of Jurassic Park, this highconcept thriller follows a group of graduate students lured to Hawaii to work for a mysterious biotech companyonly to find themselves cast ou...
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Hawaii
James A. MichenerPulitzer Prize–winning author James A. Michener brings Hawaii’s epic history vividly to life in a classic saga that has captivated readers since its initial publication in 1959. As...
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Hawaii
James A. Michener & Steve BerryPulitzer Prize–winning author James A. Michener brings Hawaii’s epic history vividly to life in a classic saga that has captivated readers since its initial publication in 1959. As...
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The Demon Crown
James Rollins“Bonechilling.” –Publishers Weekly (Starred Review)“One of the best in the series.” –Booklist (Starred Review)To save mankind’s future, the members of Sigma Force must make a devil...
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The Big Kahuna
Janet Evanovich & Peter EvanovichA stoner, an Instagram model, a Czech oligarch, and a missing unicorn. Nick Fox and Kate O'Hare have their work cut out for them in their weirdest, wildest adventure yet in this...
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The Unhoneymooners
Christina LaurenTHE INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER! Starred reviews from Kirkus Reviews Publishers Weekly Library Journal Named a “MustRead” by TODAY, Us Weekly, Bustle, BuzzFeed, Goodreads, ...
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The Loyal Lieutenant
George Hincapie & Craig HummerTrading on the sterling reputation that enabled him to survive a widely publicized doping confession, American cyclist “Big George” Hincapiea record seventeentime Tour de France pa...
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All the Gallant Men
Donald Stratton & Ken GireThe New York Times bestselling memoir of survival and heroism at Pearl Harbor“An unforgettable story of unfathomable courage.” Reader’s DigestIn this, the first memoir by...
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Tales of Old Hawaii
Robert Béla WilhelmA collection of polynesian myths, legends, and folktales from Hawaii
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To Wake the Giant
Jeff ShaaraThe New York Times bestselling master of military historical fiction tells the story of Pearl Harbor as only he can in the first novel of a gripping new series set in World War II’...
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Unwritten Literature of Hawaii
Nathaniel Bright EmersonThe very depth and gravity of its pitch, made pervasive by its wealth of overtones, give to this primitive instrument a weird hold on the emotions. This combination of qualities we...
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The Stench of Honolulu
Jack HandeyThe legendary Deep Thoughts and New Yorker humorist Jack Handey is back with his very first novela hilarious, absurd, farflung adventure tale. The Stench of Honolulu Are you a fan...
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Mr. Monk Goes to Hawaii
Lee GoldbergSome people think Hawaii is paradise. But Monk knows that dangerlike dirtlurks everywhere. Look at Helen Gruber, the rich tourist who took a fatal blow from a coconut. The police s...
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Ghosts of Honolulu
Mark HarmonNEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER"A fastpaced debut...Espionage buffs will savor this vibrant account." Publishers Weekly A U.S. naval counterintelligence officer working t...
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My Foot Is Too Big for the Glass Slipper
Gabrielle ReeceSo you got the guy on the big white horse, and the beautiful little mermaids, and the picket fence, and your life isn’ t . . . perfect in every imaginable way? You’re not alone. In...