Hawaii's Islands: An Archipelago, Not Surrounded by Others

Hawaii is an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean. It does not have external surrounding islands; rather, it consists of eight major islands: Hawaiʻi (Big Island), Maui, Oʻahu, Kauaʻi, Molokaʻi, Lānaʻi, Kahoʻolawe, and Niʻihau. Together they form the 50th U.S. state (since 1959).