The Hawaiian Islands their life millions of years ago from volcanic activity caused by an undersea magma source, geologically called a 'hotspot'. The near constant eruptions and erosions have continued almost without pause since Hawaii's original creation. The constant changes in geography combined with the endless source of minerals have resulted in an island paradise comprised of equal parts beauty and danger.
Through the millennia the Hawaiian Islands have been comprised of various atolls, islands, islets and shoals. The eight main islands that comprise the traditional Hawaiian Islands include Hawai'i, Maui, Molokai, Lanai, Kahoolawe, Oahu, Kauai and Niihau. However Kahoolawe and Niihau are seldom included in the local account of the “Hawaiian Islands”. The Hawaiian Islands represent only a small fraction of a much larger archipelago comprised of over 1500 separate islands. Very few of the islands are populated, most are the sole property of birds, insects, reptiles and migratory animals.
Prior to the coming of the Rifts, the Hawaiian Islands were a tropical paradise with over a million full time residents. Their main income was derived from tourism and at the high point of the season the population could triple or more. However all those people on such a small set of islands had an extremely damaging effect on the Hawaiian environment. Like Australia, flora and fauna in Hawaii developed independently from other species located on the main continents. Thousands of unique species evolved in Hawaii, native to the islands and found nowhere else in the world. As humans first settled on the islands then developed them many of those species were lost forever. The coming of the Rifts has once again returned much of the Hawaiian Islands back to nature, with new species evolving or arriving on a regular basis. The Hawaiian Islands on Rifts Earth are now almost as alien as they were when ancient Polynesian settlers first migrated two thousand years ago.
Weather across all the major islands is very consistent, with only a minor fluctuation throughout the year. The summer months begin in May and end in October and average 85 degrees Fahrenheit (29.4 C). The winter months begin in November and end in April with an average daytime temperature of 78 degrees Fahrenheit (25.6 C). Only at some of the higher elevations does the temperature drop significantly, such as the snow capped heights of Maunakea.
Hawaii also possesses one of the most diverse collections of micro environments, each with their own beauty and peril. Within a few days travel Hawaii can range from tropical rainforests along the Hamakua Coast to volcanic desert of Kau, sprawling beaches of Kona or Polar Tundra along Maunakea and Maunaloa.
An famous Pre-Cataclysm author best summarized the Hawaiian Islands, “The peaceful land, that beautiful land… the climate, one long delicious summer day, and the good that die experience no change, for they but fall asleep in one heaven and wake up in another.” – Mark Twain.
Through the millennia the Hawaiian Islands have been comprised of various atolls, islands, islets and shoals. The eight main islands that comprise the traditional Hawaiian Islands include Hawai'i, Maui, Molokai, Lanai, Kahoolawe, Oahu, Kauai and Niihau. However Kahoolawe and Niihau are seldom included in the local account of the “Hawaiian Islands”. The Hawaiian Islands represent only a small fraction of a much larger archipelago comprised of over 1500 separate islands. Very few of the islands are populated, most are the sole property of birds, insects, reptiles and migratory animals.
Prior to the coming of the Rifts, the Hawaiian Islands were a tropical paradise with over a million full time residents. Their main income was derived from tourism and at the high point of the season the population could triple or more. However all those people on such a small set of islands had an extremely damaging effect on the Hawaiian environment. Like Australia, flora and fauna in Hawaii developed independently from other species located on the main continents. Thousands of unique species evolved in Hawaii, native to the islands and found nowhere else in the world. As humans first settled on the islands then developed them many of those species were lost forever. The coming of the Rifts has once again returned much of the Hawaiian Islands back to nature, with new species evolving or arriving on a regular basis. The Hawaiian Islands on Rifts Earth are now almost as alien as they were when ancient Polynesian settlers first migrated two thousand years ago.
Weather across all the major islands is very consistent, with only a minor fluctuation throughout the year. The summer months begin in May and end in October and average 85 degrees Fahrenheit (29.4 C). The winter months begin in November and end in April with an average daytime temperature of 78 degrees Fahrenheit (25.6 C). Only at some of the higher elevations does the temperature drop significantly, such as the snow capped heights of Maunakea.
Hawaii also possesses one of the most diverse collections of micro environments, each with their own beauty and peril. Within a few days travel Hawaii can range from tropical rainforests along the Hamakua Coast to volcanic desert of Kau, sprawling beaches of Kona or Polar Tundra along Maunakea and Maunaloa.
An famous Pre-Cataclysm author best summarized the Hawaiian Islands, “The peaceful land, that beautiful land… the climate, one long delicious summer day, and the good that die experience no change, for they but fall asleep in one heaven and wake up in another.” – Mark Twain.