Hawaii possesses numerous attractive features that essentially emanate from the lush nature that extends throughout this volcanic archipelago emerging from the middle of the Pacific – 4,000 kilometres from the US west coast and 6,000 from Japan. Its islands are famous for their impressive landscapes, with steep cliffs, waterfalls, rainforests, beautiful beaches and, of course, volcanoes, three of them active today. Plus golf – a total of more than 70 courses in Hawaii.

It is therefore not surprising that this exotic tourist destination enjoys great popularity: in 2018, in fact, it crossed the barrier of 10 million annual visitors.

The eight main islands, of hundreds that make up the Hawaiian archipelago, are in the extreme south-east, with Hawaii being the largest – also known as The Big Island. On the island of Oahu is Honolulu, the capital of the State of Hawaii, also known as Aloha State.

Golf is another of the archipelago state’s great attractions, with golfers drawn from all over the world, and facilities for playing the sport on six of the islands, totalling more than 70 golf courses – many of them the work of some of the most prestigious designers in the world. Whether immersed in spectacular landscapes, surrounded by dark volcanic environs, on the edge of the beach or perched on impressive cliffs, the variety and quality of these courses satisfies the tastes of all types of golfers.

Hawaii Island

Although it doesn’t have the most courses, The Big Island is considered the "Golf Capital of Hawaii". Along the Kohala Coast the stunning golf courses include Hualalai, designed by Jack Nicklaus: the Francis H. Ii Brown North and South championship courses at Mauna Lani Resort; and those created by Robert Trent Jones Sr., highlighted by Mauna Kea, considered by many to be the best course in Hawaii and one the designer himself rates as one of the five best of more than 400 he has created. The legendary Jones also designed the two courses at Waikoloa Beach Resort. Many other gems are hidden throughout the island of Hawaii, delighting players with their striking contrasts of verdant fairways, white-sand bunkers, rivers of jet black lava and turquoise Pacific waters. If you hit a bad shot, you can always blame the scenery – and views like those offered by Hawaii’s course warrant a second chance.

Oahu

With the impressive Koolau mountains in the background, Oahu is the most populated island (one million inhabitants) and the one with the highest number of golf courses, more than 40 including public and private, all of them offering spectacular scenic views. And, if you want to enjoy watching the best pros on the US PGA Tour in action, each January Oahu is the venue for the Sony Open at Waialae Country Club. Golfers landing on the archipelago might be forced to make some adjustments to their game. In particular, Hawaii's trade winds can accentuate errors in your swing on a windy day. Fortunately, most Oahu courses have wide, forgiving fairways, although the Bermuda greens are more difficult to read than traditional Bentgrass greens.

Maui

The island of Maui has 14 golf courses (some reflected in the “world's best” lists), designed by leading golf architects and celebrated players such as Arnold Palmer and Ben Crenshaw. The PGA Tour’s Tournament of Champions is held here every year at the Kapalua Resort Plantation Course, designed by Crenshaw and Bill Cooreque and universally rated as the best course in Hawaii. This resort also has the Bay Course, home to around 20 major international tournaments. It's hard to imagine a more striking setting for these 18-hole masterpieces, with fairways bordering ancient rivers of lava, tees surrounded by palm groves, and greens sitting beneath rainbows formed in the ocean mists. From Kapalua to Wailea, the views are intoxicating.

Kauai

Kauai Island has nine golf courses. Visitors can play on stunning resort courses or budget-friendly independent courses, where the undergrowth is outlined by lava rocks and the greens are bordered by mountain ranges and seascapes. Princeville, on the north coast, offers a challenging option with its Makai Golf Club; while Jack Nicklaus and Robert Trent Jones Jr. have also designed exclusive courses in this resort area.

Lanai

Barely 3,000 people reside on the small Lanai island, which nevertheless has two golf courses of extraordinary prestige. On the south coast, Jack Nicklaus created one of his most beautiful masterpieces, the Manele Golf Course. With three holes built on the cliffs of Hulopoe Bay, this course is dotted with natural lava outcrops, and steep gorges and towering trees as natural hazards. The Manele is one of the most famous courses in the state of Hawaii.

Molokai

The nine-hole Ironwood Hills is the only golf course on the island of Molokai. Due to the high elevation of the course, players enjoy extensive views from many of the holes, including the imposing cliffs of Oahu and Molokai.

Longest Chain in the World

Formerly known as the Sandwich Islands, the Hawaiian archipelago spans a distance of about 2,500 kilometres from Hawaii in the south-east to Kure Atoll in the north-west. This makes Hawaii the longest chain of islands in the world.

“Aloha” is recognised as the “most Hawaiian” word. In the Hawaiian language it can mean "hello" or "goodbye" – and it also means "love" and "affection". Thanks to its unique significance and popularity, Hawaii is called "The Aloha State".

Hawaii is the 50th and most recently declared state in the United States, having become integrated into the country in 1959. If measured from east to west, Hawaii is the largest state in the United States, and also the one with the highest population density.

Hawaii is the only American state that harvests coffee. Hawaii's coffee plantations occupy 6,200 acres, and in 2003 a total of 8.5 million pounds (3.9 million kilograms) of coffee was produced. Hawaii also produces almost 320,000 tonnes of pineapples each year.

Hawaii has the highest life expectancy rate in the United States. In the case of men it is 75 years and for women, 80 years.

Hawaii has the fewest number of obese citizens in the United States. Approximately 19.7 per cent of Hawaii residents are overweight, while on the mainland the percentage is estimated to be 30 per cent.