Find Out About Hawaii In Pictures and Fewer Than 250 Words

710 KEEL's Erin McCarty will be in Hawaii for another week or so. But, in the meantime, we thought we'd give you a short 'Hawaii tutorial'

Hawaii is the most recent of the 50 states, joining the Union in 1959. It is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. There are eight, in fact, Nihau, Kauai, Molokai, Lanai, Kahoolawe, the island of Hawai1, and the largest island, Oahu. The islands are permanent home to just over a million residents. Honolulu (on Oahu) is its capitol and largest city.

Hawaii was annexed by the US in 1898, following years of unrest after the overthrow of Queen Liliuokalani seven years earlier. This move to territorial status was motivated by the island's major plantation owners, who hoped it would bring political stability.

In the 1950s, the political hold of these Republican backed land barons was finally broken at the ballot box by the descendants of plantation laborers and the Democratic Party has been dominant for the past half century. Around that time, desiring complete citizen status and voting rights, the move toward statehood began.

The state has two official languages, English and Hawaiian, and law mandates that 'all legal transactions' be conducted in the latter. 

Tourism is the state's number one industry, attracting more than six million visitors annually and bringing in over ten billion dollars. Oh, and the weather? Well, in July the average high temperature is 83. In January, it's all the way down to...79!

From all of us at 710 KEEL, 'Have a great time, Erin! And keep those incredible photos coming!'