Hawaii was the fiftieth state to join the United States (in 1959). The state of Hawaii consists of eight main islands: Niihau, Kauai, Oahu, Maui, Molokai, Lanai, Kahoolawe and the Big Island of Hawaii. The Hawaiian Islands are the projecting tops of the biggest mountain range in the world. They were formed thousands of years ago when under sea volcanoes erupted. It remains the only state located completely in the tropics and has the distinction of being the southernmost state of the Union. In addition, Hawaii is the only state of all fifty that does not have a white majority. In fact, Hawaii possesses the largest Asian American population in the country. Hawaii has its own time zone (Hawaiian Standard Time.) There is no daylight savings time; the time runs two hours behind Pacific Standard Time and five hours behind Eastern Standard Time. Hawaii is a truly unique state.
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