HAWAiiABD'nin eyaletlerinden birisidir. Kuzey Büyük Okyanus'da, anakaradan 3.700 kilometre uzaklıkta, bir adalar grubudur.M.Ö. 1000 sıralarında diğer polonezya adaları tarafından işgal edilmiştir. Yaklaşık 800 yıl boyunca çeşitli kabileler buraya yerleşmiş, huzur içinde kültürlerini ve dinlerini devam ettirmişlerdir. 1778 yılında İngiliz Deniz Kaptanı James Cook, Hawaii takımadasına yelken açmış ve ilk Avrupa-Hawaii ilişkisini yaratmıştır. Yine de tarihçiler bu adaya Avrupa'dan ilk gidenin bir İspanyol olduğunu tartışırlar. Avrupa ile ilişkiler sonucu bazı krallar tüm Hawaii adalarının kontrolünü almaya çalışmışlardır. Örneğin, ünlü Kamehameha Avrupalılarla ticaret yaparak onlardan barutlu silahlar elde etmiştir. Hawaii'de bilinmeyen barut teknolojisi sayesinde Kamehameha yavaş yavaş tüm adaları işgal edebilmiştir.
Ona karşı çıkan bazı kabileler, oklarla ve mıraklarla kendi ülkelerini koruyamadıklarından, çareyi yüksek uçurumlardan atlamakta bulmuşlardır. İntihar, onlar için teslim olmaktan çok daha iyi idi.Kamehameha'nın kazandığı topraklar ancak 1893'e kadar dayanabilmiştir. Son kral olan Liliuokalani, Hawaii Reform Partisi (Reform Party of the Hawaiian Kingdom) tarafından yıkılmıştır. Son diktatörlükten sonra bir cumhuriyet kurulmuş, ve dış ülkelere kapalı olan Hawaii ticareti, dünya ekonomisine katılarak üretimini ve ticaretini büyük ölçüde geliştirmiştir. Son olarak 1898'de Amerika himayesi altına girip, 1959'da bir referandumla Amerika Birleşik Devletleri'nin 50. ve sonuncu eyaleti olmuştur.
Coğrafya:Tüm Amerikan eyaletlerinden en güneydeki olan Hawaii, birçok açıdan diğer eyaletlere göre çok farklıdır. Tek ada eyaletidir. Volkanlardan çıkan lavdan dolayı alan olarak hep büyümektedir. Bugün bildiğimiz Hawaii, su altı volkanlarından çıkan lavların katılaşıp kayalara dönüşmesiyle oluşmuştur.Bu takımada yaklaşık 18 küçük adacıklardan ibarettir. Fakat bunların sekizi ana adalar olarak tanımlanır. Bunlar Ni'ihau, Kaua'i, O'ahu, Moloka'i, Lāna'i, Kaho'olawe, Maui, ve Hawai'i adalarıdır. Hawai'i adası en büyüğü olduğu için ona daha çok Büyük Ada (Big Island) diye hitap ederler. Bu ismi takmalarının bir diğer nedeni ise bu adanın ismi takımadanın ismiyle aynı olmasıdır.Bu adalar yüksek ve volkanik dağlarıyla ünlüdürler. İklimi ve volkanik toprağı bitki yetişimine çok elverişlidir. Lavların içindeki minerallerle oluşan toprak, dünyanın başka yerlerinde görülmemiş bitkilerin ve hayvanların oluşmasıni sağlamıştır.
İklimHawaii iklimi tipik bir tropikal iklimine benzemez. Okyanusla kaplı ve kıtalardan uzak olduğundan dolayı, sıcaklık yıl genelinde fazla değişiklik göstermez.
Sıcaklık genellikle 27°C ve 16°C arasıdır. Kar fazla bulunmaz, fakat Büyük Ada'nın (Big Island'ın) Mauna Loa ve Mauna Kea dağlarının tepelerinde zaman zaman kar görülür. Hawaii'de yağışlar bol ve tahmin edilemezdir. Aynı günde bol yağışlı ve sonra güneşli bir hava görülebilir. Kaua'i adasındaki Waialeale dağı, dünyadaki en fazla yağış alan ikinci yerdir.Her adada iki iklim bulunur. Yüksek dağlardan dolayı bulutlar adanın bir tarafında kalırken, öbür taraf fazla bulut almaz. Bu nedenle her adanın bulutlu yanı bol yağışlı ve yeşildir. Diğer taraf ise güneşli ve kuraktır. Örneğin Büyük Ada'nın (Big İsland'ın), Mauna Loa ve Mauna Kea dağları doğudan gelen bulutları bloke eder. Bundan dolayı doğudaki Hilo şehri bol yağış alırken, batıdaki Kona şehri bol güneş alır. Tüm oteller ve yüzme tesisleri güneşli Kona'dadır.
Önemli ŞehirlerO'hau adasındaki Honolulu şehri Hawaii'nin başkenti ve en büyük şehiridir. Burada uzun binalar, apartmanlar, ve büyük otoyolları görülür. Bazıları bu sanayileşmeyi ve kentleşmeyi adanın doğallığını ve güzelliği suistimal ettiğini düşünür. Fakat diğer şehirlere bakıldığında doğa korunmuş ve ona özen gösterilmiştir. Bu şehirlerden en önemlilerinden bazıları Hilo, Kāne'ohe, Kailua, Pearl City, Waipahu, Kahului, Kailua-Kona, Kīhei, ve Līhu'e'dir.
Toplumsal İstatistikler2005'den itibaren Hawaii'nin nüfusu 1.275.194 olarak tahmin ediliyor. O'ahu adası da en kalabalık adadır.
Resmi Dil Hawaii eyaletinin iki resmi dili vardır. Çoğu Hawaii doğumlu insanlar Hawaii Creole İngilizcesini konuşurlar. Bu eski Hawaiice ile İngilizce'nin bir karışımı olup, genelde konuşulan dildir. Fakat ülkede İngilizce bilen turistler hiç zorluk yaşamazlar. Çünkü şehirlerdeki tüm yol işaretleri İngilizcedir ve çoğu insanlar İngilizceyi sorunsuz konuşabilirler.Kaptan James Cook Hawaii adasını bulmadan önce Hawaiice'nin yazısı yoktu. Avrupalı misyonerler buraya Hıristiyanlığı yaymak için geldiklerinde Latin alfabesiyle kendi Hawaii yazılarını üretmişlerdir ve bu yazı tarzı bügün de devam etmektedir.Bu yazı aynı Türkçe gibi okunur. Sadece kesme işaretinde bir duraksanır, sonra kelime devam ettirilir.
Örneğin Kāne'ohe söylenirken kesme işaretinde kısa bir duraksama olur. Ya da Hawai'i de, son iki "i" arasında duraksanır.Ayrıca tüm adalarda yerliler turistlere Hawaiice öğretmek isterler. Genelde öğretilen iki kelime aloha (merhaba) ve mahalo (teşekkürler)'dur. Bu kelimeler tüm restoranlarda, otellerde, havalimanında, ve hatta topluma açık tuvaletlerde bile görülebilir.
Kültür
Hawaii kültürü adanın sahillerinden, yeşil ormanlarından, büyük dalgalarından ortaya çıkmıştır. Herkeste bir yazlık havası, bir telaşsızlık vardır. Rahat oldukları kadar çok sıcak ve misafirperverdirler. Avrupa'nın ve diğer ülkelerin himayesi olmalarına rağmen kültürlerini koruyabilmişler, hatta kültürlerini yabancılara bile özendirmişlerdir. Fiziksel olarak aktif oldukları, stresten uzak durdukları için Amerikanın en uzun ömürlü insanlarıdır.Deniz bir Hawaii yerlisinin en önemli parçasıdır.
Spor olarak yüzme ve sörf dallarında birçok olimpiyat madalyaları almışlardır. Dünyanın en iyi sörfçüleri Hawaii denizinin kızgın dalgalarında yetişmişlerdir. Duke Kahanamoku isimli bir Hawaiili yüzme dalında Olimpiyat Madalyası kazanmış ve sörfü yaygınlaşmıştır. Böylece sörf onun sayesinde dünyaca yapılan bir spordur. Heykeli başkent Honolulu'dadır.Bunların yanı sıra Hawaiililer adaların doğal güzelliğine karşı çok saygılıdırlar. Uzun otoyolların, yüksek binaların, ve fabrikaların kurulmalarına karşı olup doğayı kirletmemeye özen gösterirler.
Hawaii State Facts General information about Hawaii. Includes state facts, symbols, maps, etc.USS Arizona Memorial - Honolulu: The USS Arizona Memorial (USAR) is built over the remains of the sunken battleship USS Arizona, the final resting place for many of the 1,177 crewmen killed on December 7, 1941 when their ship was bombed by the Japanese Naval Forces. This loss of life represents over half of the Americans killed on this "Day of Infamy", the worst naval disaster in American History.Hawaii Volcanoes National Park - Island of Hawaii: The park reflects 70 million years of volcanism, migration and evolution. Its diverse environments range from sea level to the summit of the Earth's most massive volcano, Mauna Loa, at 13,677 feet.Polynesian Cultural Center - Laie: Offers an authentic showcase of 7 Polynesian cultures, an IMAX theater, as well as a spectacular night show and luau.Honolulu Zoo - Honolulu: The Honolulu Zoo covers 42 lush, shady acres at the Diamond Head end of Waikiki. The zoo features some special exhibits such as the Nene (the Hawaii state bird), native Hawaiian forest birds, and the highlight of the zoo, the Kabuni Reserve.
Sea Life Park - Waimanalo: Sea Life Park is a world-class marine attraction perched between the majestic Koolau Mountain Range and breathtaking Makapuu Beach. See dolphins dance, sea lions sing, and penguins perform in this magical place by the sea.Bernice P. Bishop Museum - Honolulu:Designated the State Museum on Natural and Cultural History in 1988, Bishop Museum is a place where families can learn about their island heritage and discover the wonders of science through fun, hands-on exhibits and programs.Iao Valley State Park -
Maui: Scenic viewpoint of Iao Needle, an erosional feature which abruptly rises 1200 feet from the valley floor.
National Cemetery of the Pacific(Punchbowl) - Honolulu: Few national cemeteries can compete with the dramatic natural setting of the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific. The "Punchbowl" was formed some 75,000 to 100,000 years ago during the Honolulu period of secondary volcanic activity. A crater resulted from the ejection of hot lava through cracks in the old coral reefs which, at the time, extended to the foot of the Koolau Mountain Range. 39 memorials honor Americas veterans from various organizations-most commemorating soldiers of 20th-century wars, including those killed at Pearl Harbor.
Florida Travel and TourismTravel information for Florida
Florida State Facts: General information about Florida. Includes state facts, symbols, maps, etc.Walt Disney World Resort: Renowned collection of theme parks, water parks, resorts, and recreational activities from Disney.Busch Gardens - Tampa Bay: Family adventure park offering an array of attractions based on exotic encounters with the African continent. Features a combination of thrill rides, one of the countrys premier zoos featuring more than 2,700 animals, live shows, restaurants, shops and games.
Miami Beach: A popular vacation destination featuring amazing beaches, fine dining, shopping, and a bustling night life.
Palm Beach: With over 47 miles of white sandy beaches and over 200 hotels and resorts from Jupiter to Boca Raton, Palm Beach offers every conceivable amenity. Hotels, resorts, exotic seaside cottages, charming inns and cozy bed and breakfasts are available year-round.Florida Keys: Tropical islands connected to the continental US by bridges that feature beautiful beaches and clear blue waters.
St Augustine: Americas oldest city featuring numerous historic sites, including massive forts, missions and living history museums.Amelia Island: Features a rich history, including being the only site in the US to be governed by eight different countries. Home to 13 miles of beaches and endless blue skies, the island is known for its sunsets and sunrises.Dayton International Speedway: Home of "The Worlds Greatest Race", the Daytona 500. The Daytona 500 attracts the largest audience in motorsports annually. Also home to the most diverse schedule of racing in the world.Naples: Popular seaside travel destination with a vast array of golfing, shopping, and fishing opportunities.
ENGLANDBrief History of EnglandIn 43 AD Rome invaded England and abandoned it about 400 years later. But in the meantime, the Romans left their mark. Cities such as Bath, Chester and Dover owe their origins to Romans and display remnants from the Roman period to tourists. Even London was a Roman city known as Londinium, however, not much remains from Roman times there.
Alfred the Great became the first king of all free Englishmen in 878 under the Treaty of Wedmore after leading a defeat of attacking Vikings. He started a long line of monarchs. Queen Elizabeth II, the current monarch can trace her linage back to Alfred. Today English monarchs have mostly ceremonial duties which are clearly defined in the country’s constitution; however, some of these duties can be significant.
For example, the Queen Elizabeth II has a weekly consultation with the Prime Minister, the democratic ruler of the country. While the Prime Minister is free to rule as he sees fit, these discussions can be very influential. England became a protestant country when King Henry VIII wanted to divorce his wife. Since divorce was not permitted by the Catholic Church, Henry cut off ties with Rome and created the Anglican Church. Henry became the head of the Anglican Church and one of his accomplishments was to fund the publication of the first complete English language Bible. To this day, the Anglican Church (Church of England) is still the dominant religion in the country.
England became very wealthy in the 1700s from its activities in its colonies around the world and particularly the African slave trade. Slaves were bought and sold in London until 1834 when slaves were emancipated. Roughly at the same time that slaves were being freed, the steam engine was being developed and the industrial revolution radically changed English society. Everything from manufacturing to transportation became much more efficient, inexpensive and available to the masses. England became an even richer and more powerful nation.
The friendship between the USA and England goes back a long way. Just two years after the 1783 Treaty of Paris where England officially recognized the US independance, England’s reigning monach, King George III said to John Adams, US ambassador to England "I was the last to consent to the separation; but I would be the first to meet the friendship of the United States as an independent power."
England was hit hard by German bombing during World War II. Many cities including London were badly damaged. The wars between the countries caused, and continues to cause, strained relationship between these two members of the European Community. However, Germany and England have a lot in common. It is estimated that up to 35% of English words are from German. There are many words that have identical meanings in both languages even when they are not spelled exactly the same (Hand, Finger, Haus, Musik, Telefon, Mann, etc).
So, what is the difference between England, Great Britain and the UK? * United Kingdom is: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland* Great Britain is: England, Scotland and Wales* British Isles is: Great Britain, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Isle of Man, Hebrides, Isle of Wight, Scilly Islands, Lundy Island, Channel Islands, plus others. The name British Isles has no official meaning; it is more of a geographical term. Politically what is important is the United Kingdom. The Prime minister and Parliament do not rule only England or Britain, they rule the entire UK. But England is the major power within the UK.
Transportation
From inside Europe the most common form of transportation to England is airplane or train. England is rich in discount airlines some of the largest discount airlines such as EasyJet and Monarch are headquartered here and most major discount airlines in Europe fly to England. This means that transportation to and from England can be inexpensive if booked in advance.
The English train system is extensive and overall very good. However, delays are frequent and the system can be a little confusing. In 1993 the national train company was broken up and privatized. Now there are over 20 independent train companies operating throughout the UK. If you are traveling cross country, your journey may require you to ride on trains operated by several different companies, each with its own policies and level of service. An umbrella organization, National Rail, operates in the train stations and sells tickets for all of the different companies. However, there are exceptions.
Some lines, such as between Heathrow as Gatwick airports, are operated by several different companies and each sells its own ticket for that trip. Also, online purchases are made directly from the train company. If you go to the National Rail website, it can search through the different fares and schedules and recommend a low cost option. But it will not sell a ticket. Once you have selected a fare and train company from National Rail, you will be connected to the website for that company where you will begin your search all over again. It may seem a bit complicated, but it is not, and overall train travel throughout England is good and reliable. Not as good as train travel in Switzerland perhaps, but very acceptable.
General Information
* Capital City: London
* Languages: English is obviously the native language but regional accents and slang vary and in certain areas a non-native may wonder what language they are speaking.
* Size: About 130,000 square KM. This is quite small, but England is larger than The Netherlands, Switzerland and Denmark COMBINED. England is similar in size to the State of New York.
* Population: 50 Million
* Money: England has declined to enter the Euro system. The official currency of England is the British Pound. Other currencies such as the US Dollar and the Euro are not generally accepted, however exchange booths and ATMs are widely available.
* Visas: US citizens do not require visas only a valid passport. Schengen visas, accepted by many European countries are NOT valid here. For information about visas to England, see this list of Embassies and Consulates.
* Religion: The majority of the population (70-75%) is Christian with the vast majority belonging to the Church of England, and about 8% belonging to the Catholic Church. Muslim religion, represents about 3%. Jewish religion makes up less than 1% of the population.
Alfred the Great became the first king of all free Englishmen in 878 under the Treaty of Wedmore after leading a defeat of attacking Vikings. He started a long line of monarchs. Queen Elizabeth II, the current monarch can trace her linage back to Alfred. Today English monarchs have mostly ceremonial duties which are clearly defined in the country’s constitution; however, some of these duties can be significant.
For example, the Queen Elizabeth II has a weekly consultation with the Prime Minister, the democratic ruler of the country. While the Prime Minister is free to rule as he sees fit, these discussions can be very influential. England became a protestant country when King Henry VIII wanted to divorce his wife. Since divorce was not permitted by the Catholic Church, Henry cut off ties with Rome and created the Anglican Church. Henry became the head of the Anglican Church and one of his accomplishments was to fund the publication of the first complete English language Bible. To this day, the Anglican Church (Church of England) is still the dominant religion in the country.
England became very wealthy in the 1700s from its activities in its colonies around the world and particularly the African slave trade. Slaves were bought and sold in London until 1834 when slaves were emancipated. Roughly at the same time that slaves were being freed, the steam engine was being developed and the industrial revolution radically changed English society. Everything from manufacturing to transportation became much more efficient, inexpensive and available to the masses. England became an even richer and more powerful nation.
The friendship between the USA and England goes back a long way. Just two years after the 1783 Treaty of Paris where England officially recognized the US independance, England’s reigning monach, King George III said to John Adams, US ambassador to England "I was the last to consent to the separation; but I would be the first to meet the friendship of the United States as an independent power."
England was hit hard by German bombing during World War II. Many cities including London were badly damaged. The wars between the countries caused, and continues to cause, strained relationship between these two members of the European Community. However, Germany and England have a lot in common. It is estimated that up to 35% of English words are from German. There are many words that have identical meanings in both languages even when they are not spelled exactly the same (Hand, Finger, Haus, Musik, Telefon, Mann, etc).
So, what is the difference between England, Great Britain and the UK? * United Kingdom is: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland* Great Britain is: England, Scotland and Wales* British Isles is: Great Britain, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Isle of Man, Hebrides, Isle of Wight, Scilly Islands, Lundy Island, Channel Islands, plus others. The name British Isles has no official meaning; it is more of a geographical term. Politically what is important is the United Kingdom. The Prime minister and Parliament do not rule only England or Britain, they rule the entire UK. But England is the major power within the UK.
Transportation
From inside Europe the most common form of transportation to England is airplane or train. England is rich in discount airlines some of the largest discount airlines such as EasyJet and Monarch are headquartered here and most major discount airlines in Europe fly to England. This means that transportation to and from England can be inexpensive if booked in advance.
The English train system is extensive and overall very good. However, delays are frequent and the system can be a little confusing. In 1993 the national train company was broken up and privatized. Now there are over 20 independent train companies operating throughout the UK. If you are traveling cross country, your journey may require you to ride on trains operated by several different companies, each with its own policies and level of service. An umbrella organization, National Rail, operates in the train stations and sells tickets for all of the different companies. However, there are exceptions.
Some lines, such as between Heathrow as Gatwick airports, are operated by several different companies and each sells its own ticket for that trip. Also, online purchases are made directly from the train company. If you go to the National Rail website, it can search through the different fares and schedules and recommend a low cost option. But it will not sell a ticket. Once you have selected a fare and train company from National Rail, you will be connected to the website for that company where you will begin your search all over again. It may seem a bit complicated, but it is not, and overall train travel throughout England is good and reliable. Not as good as train travel in Switzerland perhaps, but very acceptable.
General Information
* Capital City: London
* Languages: English is obviously the native language but regional accents and slang vary and in certain areas a non-native may wonder what language they are speaking.
* Size: About 130,000 square KM. This is quite small, but England is larger than The Netherlands, Switzerland and Denmark COMBINED. England is similar in size to the State of New York.
* Population: 50 Million
* Money: England has declined to enter the Euro system. The official currency of England is the British Pound. Other currencies such as the US Dollar and the Euro are not generally accepted, however exchange booths and ATMs are widely available.
* Visas: US citizens do not require visas only a valid passport. Schengen visas, accepted by many European countries are NOT valid here. For information about visas to England, see this list of Embassies and Consulates.
* Religion: The majority of the population (70-75%) is Christian with the vast majority belonging to the Church of England, and about 8% belonging to the Catholic Church. Muslim religion, represents about 3%. Jewish religion makes up less than 1% of the population.
