| Of the fifty states in the United States, 49 are located on the mainland of North America. |
| The other state is Hawaii, which consists of several islands in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. |
| Hawaii is known as an especially beautiful and interesting place. |
| The Hawaiian islands were formed by volcanic eruptions |
| that pushed molten rock, called “lava,” above the surface of the ocean. |
| Some of the islands no longer have any volcanic activity, |
| but there are still active volcanoes on two Hawaiian islands, |
| Oahu and the “big island” (which is known simply as Hawaii). |
| One of these volcanoes, Mauna Loa, |
| still erupts sometimes, with spectacular explosions of lava. |
| Another volcano, called Mauna Kea, is now dormant. |
| These volcanoes are both very tall |
| and reach over 4000 meters above sea level. |
| The air above Mauna Kea is so clear and thin |
| that scientists use the mountain as a base for observing the stars. |
| The islands of Hawaii are located in the tropics, |
| and they are known for their beautiful weather. |
| The temperatures are usually in the range of 20 to 30 degrees Celsius, |
| and the days are usually sunny. |
| This weather allows people to enjoy swimming and surfing on the beautiful beaches of Hawaii. |
| Despite the sunshine, |
| most of the islands also receive enough rainfall to support many beautiful flowers and trees. |
| The first people to live in Hawaii were Polynesian groups |
| who arrived from other islands in the Pacific, well over 1000 years ago. |
| The islands were visited by European explorers during the late 18th century. |
| During the early 19th century, the islands became unified under a single king. |
| However, during this time, |
| many Hawaiians died from diseases that were brought by European and American visitors. |
| The Hawaiian islands are excellent places for growing sugar cane and pineapples. |
| In the late 18th century, some Americans began large farms, called “plantations,” in Hawaii. |
| The Americans eventually gained control of the government, |
| and Hawaii became a territory of the United States. |
| The United States built a naval base on the island of Oahu, at Pearl Harbor. |
| This base was attacked by Japan in 1941, but it was soon repaired. |
| The naval base is still in use today. |
| During the 19th and 20th centuries, |
| there was great demand for labor on the sugar and pineapple plantations. |
| People came to Hawaii from many lands, |
| and Hawaii became a place of many cultures. |
| The native Hawaiians mixed with people from places such as Japan, |
| China, Korea, the Philippines, |
| Portugal, and Puerto Rico, as well as the mainland United States. |
| Today, many Hawaiians can claim a diverse heritage. |
| In 1959, Hawaii became the 50th state of the United States, |
| with the city of Honolulu as its capital. |
| Today, there are more than one million people in Hawaii, |
| more than half of whom live in Honolulu. |
| Each year, many more people visit Hawaii as tourists, to experience the beauty of these islands. |
More English listening lessons for intermediate level:
Lesson 46: The Rights of the Accused
