Hawaii's diverse natural scenery, warm tropical climate, abundance of public beaches, oceanic surroundings, active volcanoes, and clear skies on the Big Island make it a popular destination for tourists, surfers, biologists, volcanologists, and astronomers. Because of its central location in the Pacific and 19th-century labor migration, Hawaii's culture is strongly influenced by North American and East Asian cultures, in addition to its indigenous Hawaiian culture

Oʻahu known as "The Gathering Place", is the third-largest of the Hawaiian Islands. It is home to roughly one million people—about two-thirds of the population of the U.S. state of Hawaii. The island lies within Honolulu County and the state capital, Honolulu, is on Oahu's southeast coast.

The island of Maui is the second-largest of the Hawaiian Islands. Maui is the largest of Maui County's four islands, which include Molokaʻi, Lānaʻi and unpopulated Kahoʻolawe. Other significant places include Wailuku, Kīhei, Wailea and Makena. Other areas include Lāhainā including Kāʻanapali and Kapalua in Lāhainā Town, Makawao, Pukalani, Pāʻia, Kula, Haʻikū, and Hāna.

Kauaʻi is geologically the second oldest of the main Hawaiian Islands (after Niʻihau). It is the fourth-largest of these islands. Known also as the "Garden Isle", Kauaʻi lies 105 miles (169 km) across the Kauaʻi Channel, northwest of Oʻahu. This island is the site of Waimea Canyon State Park.