Hawaii, known as the Big Island, is the youngest on the Hawaiian chain. Just beyond its water to the east is Loihi, a new island building under water. Five shield volcanoes formed Hawaii, using enough lava to create a massive island. For millions of years these volcanoes have been erupting, creating enough layers to emerge out of the ocean. The five volcanoes that gave life to the Big Island are Kilauea and Mauna Loa, which are still active, as well as Hualalai last erupting in 1801. The Mauna Kea and Kohala have been inactive in recent history. As time passed lava developed paths and wind and erosion carved valleys and high sea cliffs.
Polynesians were one of the first occupants of the island. With them they brought ingredients for survival such as bananas, coconut, mulberries and animals. The culture began to grow due to knowledge of fishing, boat building, weaving and other tasks. By the time Captain Cook discovered the island in 1779, the population had grown to 80,000. The culture continued to grow and was guided under a strict set of rules. Chiefs and commoners believed in mythology and came accustomed to worshiping Pele, a goddess who changes place and form at will. Hawaiian legend tells that every time lava spurts from a cauldron or flows down a mountain, she will reveal herself. To this day, Hawaiians will place gifts at her rim hoping to appease the goddess.
When Captain Cook arrived on the island in 1779, he was mistaken for a god named Lon. At the time of his arrival, the natives were celebrating, and treated Cook as a king. The ceremony continued for two weeks and Cook eventually set sail to leave. Upon his return, he unexpectedly sailed into a bay off limits and was clubbed to death by Hawaiian warriors. Following his death, the Big Island's King Kamehameha set out to conquer the other islands using all of Cook's weapons and sailing vessels. By 1791, he had rule over his own island and by 1795, he also ruled Maui, Molokai, Lanai, Oahu and Kauai.
Missionaries set foot on the Big Island in 1820. The normal way of worship was abandoned by the current rulers and Christianity was embraced. The missionaries destroyed all ancient Hawaiian alters and replaced them with churches. By 1840, the islands had a constitution, a supreme court, and a parliament with an elected lower house. By 1850, foreigners were able to buy land and with time an immigration office was established in order to recruit sugar cane workers. By the mid 1800s, many business men arrived only to see conflict with royalty. With pressure from the United States military, Queen Liliuokalani gave her role to American business men who founded the Republic of Hawaii. Soon in 1959, Hawaii was approved for statehood as the fiftieth state. Today, the island is a center for research, education, and is a production leader in agriculture, flowers, coffee, and macadamia nuts.
The island of Hawaii has twelve distinct climates. Visitors can experience anything here from the tundra to a rain forest. Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa are tundra-like, the driest spot of the region. On the other hand, the wettest areas are rain forests on the windward side where two hundred inches fall annually.
Oh the leeward side, some receive less than five inches annually. Agriculture and ranching are the main source of income on the island. The sugar cane industry is no longer a main commerce for the island, but serves as an important historical aspect. One of the largest working ranches in the United States occupies large expanses of land at the northern part of the island. Tourists who visit the island are presented with activities that are not available on any of the other islands. One can go snow skiing or even view a live volcano.