Situated approximately 4,000 km from the closest continent and 2,000 km from the nearest populated island, Hawaii is the most isolated archipelago in the world. Right in the middle of the North Pacific, this 132 islands and islets are spread over 2,500 km across the Tropic of Cancer.

The eight main islands, seven of which are populated, cover 95 per cent of the south-eastern surface area of the archipelago. They include, from east to west: Hawaii, Maui, Kahoolawe, Lanai, Molokai, Oahu, Kauai, and Niihau.

Although archaeological findings show that they were populated a long time ago, the north-western islands beyond Kauai and Niihau now form an immense wildlife reserve, forbidden to visitors, and are home to seabirds and monk seals. Only Midway Island, formerly populated by military personnel but recently returned to civilians, can be visited; about 100 people live there year-round.