The Hawaiian Islands make up the most remote land mass in the world. Emerging approx. 32 million years ago, the 132 scattered islands are tips of shield volcanoes rising from the ocean floor (16,000 -ft). Volcanoes were formed from a 'hot spot' in the tectonic plate, which punches holes through the ocean floor. The slow moving plate travels from east/southeast to north/northwest. This series of volcanoes makes a submerged mountain range over 1,600 miles long (2/3 width of continental U.S.). Many older islands have eroded into ragged reefbanks and atolls. The populated islands are the youngest volcanoes of the southeastern side.

The Polynesians were very aware of their environment. Relying on maritime instincts, their eyes, stars and natural phenomena - anthropologists believe Polynesians were navigating over distances in excess of 1000 miles prior to 500 A.D. By contrast, western man waited until the 15th century before daring out on large ocean journeys of significant latitude.
Headquarters of the Polynesian main body was established in the largest island (Havai'i) of the leeward group of Tahiti. As Havai'i based fleets set out to settle the Society Islands, Samoa, Tonga, Fiji, and finally Hawai'i and New Zealand - they established colonies often named after their home port island. In Somoa the largest island is called Savai'i. In the Cook Islands it is 'Ava'iki. In New Zealand the ancient home is Hawa'iki. In the Hawaiian islands the largest island is Hawai'i.
The first discoverers of Hawai'i were Polynesians from the Marquesas Islands between 500 and 800 A.D. About 500 years later, 1000 A.D. and 1200 A.D., Tahitian fleets began arriving. Both groups brought to the Hawaiian Archipelago a common basic language, similar foods, traditions and gods, related cultural peculiarities and synonymous myth.
These two groups of Polynesians made the over 2000 mile run to Hawai'i by trailing the golden plover, riding tradewinds and fixing on the key stars. Sirius, the brightest star in the sky, passes directly over Tahiti and Raiatea (Hawa'iki). Arcturus (Hoku le'a) was a star noted for its bright redness off the Big Dipper's handle and passes over the northern end of Hawai'i

The largest of the islands by far is Hawai'i, referred to as the 'Big Island'. Twice larger than all the remaining island's combined. Made by the mighty volcanoes of Mauna Kea (13,796ft), Hualalai and Mauna Loa (13,677') - the highest elevations in the Pacific. If measured from the ocean floor where they began, these are the world's tallest mountains (nearly 30,000'). Mauna Loa is the largest mountain on earth -100 x larger than Mt. Shasta in the U.S. or Mt. Fuji in Japan.