Hawaii's diverse natural scenery, warm tropical climate, abundance of public beaches, oceanic surroundings, and active volcanoes make it a popular destination for tourists, surfers, biologists, and volcanologists. Because of its central location in the Pacific and 19th-century labor migration, Hawaii's culture is strongly influenced by North American and East Asian cultures, in addition to its indigenous Hawaiian culture. Hawaii has over a million permanent residents, along with many visitors and U.S. military personnel. Its capital is Honolulu on the island of Oʻahu.

Hawaii is the 8-th smallest and the 11-th least populous, but 13th most densely populated of the 50 U.S states. It is the only state with an Asianplurality. The state's oceanic coastline is about 750 miles (1,210 km) long, the fourth longest in the US after the coastlines of Alaska, Florida, and California.

Ancient Hawaiians lived sustainably and recognized that human civilization is an integral part of the natural world. If the human community is to survive, the natural world and nature must be preserved and perpetuated.The Hawaiian Hale exemplifies the concept of sustainable design.Pursuing everyday activities in the midst of warm sunshine and gentle breezes ancient Hawaiians lived their lives mostly outdoors. Thebenign climate did not require a shelter of thick walls and insulation for protection against rough weather.

Traditional hale were constructed of native woods lashed together with cordage. Materials for thatching were provided by the renewable resource of plant leaves and grasses.The grass cabins are of a grayish color, are higher and steeper roofs usually, and are made of some kind of weed strongly bound together in bundles. The roofs are very thick, and so are the walls; the latter have square holes in them for windows. At a distance these cabins have a furry appearance, as if they might be made of bearskins. They are very cool and pleasant inside.

Thatch shelters were not all family homes. They served many purposes. A hale like this could have been used at a fish camp for a few days visit. A Hawaiian village consisted of many different types of hale. Different hale provided places for different kinds of work and rest.Pili grass was one of the most common materials used for thatching. Grass bundles were made by fastening with twisted fiber or vines and then tied to horizontal purlins. Large piles of Pili grass has to be collected to thatch an entire house. Huge piles to prepare and tie into bundles.

Grass is a natural sustainable resource and with a little help from the gathered family a new roof or walls can be easily replaced.

Hawaiian religion originated among the Tahitians and other Pacific islanders who landed in Hawaiʻibetween 500 and 1300 AD. Today, Hawaiian religious practices are protected by the American Indian Religious Freedom Act.Traditional Hawaiian religion is unrelated to the modern New Age practice known as "Huna."

One Hawaiian creation myth is embodied in the Kumulipo, an epic chant linking the aliʻi, or Hawaiian royalty, to the gods. The Kumulipo is divided into two sections: night, or pō, and day, or ao, with the former corresponding to divinity and the latter corresponding to mankind. After the birth of Laʻilaʻi, the woman, and Kiʻi, the man, the man succeeds at seducing and reproducing with the woman before the god Kāne has a chance, thereby making the divine lineage of the gods younger than and thus subservient to the lineage of man. This, in turn, illustrates the transition of mankind from being symbols for the gods (the literal meaning of kiʻi) into the keeper of these symbols in the form of idols and the like.The Kumulipo was recited during the time of Makahiki, to honor the god of fertility, Lono.

William H. Purvis introduced macadamia nuts to Hawaii as a windbreak for sugar cane.
1910

The Hawaiian Agricultural Experiment Station encouraged planting of macadamias on Hawaii's Kona District, as a crop to supplement coffee production in the region.
1922

Ernest Van Tassel formed the Hawaiian Macadamia Nut Co in Hawaii.

Tassel leased 75 acres (30 ha) on Round Top in Honolulu and began Nutridge, Hawaii's first macadamia seed farm.

Tassel established a macadamia-processing factory on Puhukaina Street in Kakaako, Hawaii, selling the nuts as Van's Macadamia Nuts.

Winston Jones and J. H. Beaumont of the University of Hawaii's Agricultural Experiment Station reported the first successful grafting of macadamias, paving the way for mass production.
1946

A large plantation was established in Hawaii.

Castle & Cooke added a new brand of macadamia nuts called "Royal Hawaiian", which was credited with popularizing the nuts in the U.S.

Area: 1.317 mi²