You can't really understand Barack until you understand Hawaii," Michelle Obama once said of her husband, whoh was born here in 1961. For althrough the seven inhabited islands of the Hawaiian archipelago constitute the 50th state of the USA, this place is very far from America, both literally and culturally.
Volcanic islands
geographically, these are the most isolated islands in the world - 4000 kilometres from the nearest landmass. Originally formed by volcanic eruption, they are still in the process of formation today - the kilauea volcano on the main island has been in continuous eruption for the past 23 years, producing a slow river of lava that flows down to the sea and cools into rock. The magma has created one of the planet's most dramatic landscapes. Although the islands are tropical, for instance, there is snow on the summits of their main mountains.
Racial harmony
Culturally, they are a unique mix of influences. Officially, native Hawaiians make up nine per cent of the population, whites 30 per cent and asians 40 per cent, but the genuine picture is more complicated as one in every two people marry outside thier racial group. Indeed, there are less than 10000 pure blood Hawaiians (0,7 per cent of the population).
In that respect, it is not surpriseing that Barack Obama Sr, the first African student ever to go to University of Hawaii, was so impressed by its racial tolerance. When he arrived in 1959, racial segregation was still normal in large parts of the USA, but in Hawaii he discovered a place where no one seemed to be "conscious of colour". A little more than a year later, he married a white American student, Ann Dunham, on the island of Maui.
Volcanic islands
geographically, these are the most isolated islands in the world - 4000 kilometres from the nearest landmass. Originally formed by volcanic eruption, they are still in the process of formation today - the kilauea volcano on the main island has been in continuous eruption for the past 23 years, producing a slow river of lava that flows down to the sea and cools into rock. The magma has created one of the planet's most dramatic landscapes. Although the islands are tropical, for instance, there is snow on the summits of their main mountains.
Racial harmony
Culturally, they are a unique mix of influences. Officially, native Hawaiians make up nine per cent of the population, whites 30 per cent and asians 40 per cent, but the genuine picture is more complicated as one in every two people marry outside thier racial group. Indeed, there are less than 10000 pure blood Hawaiians (0,7 per cent of the population).
In that respect, it is not surpriseing that Barack Obama Sr, the first African student ever to go to University of Hawaii, was so impressed by its racial tolerance. When he arrived in 1959, racial segregation was still normal in large parts of the USA, but in Hawaii he discovered a place where no one seemed to be "conscious of colour". A little more than a year later, he married a white American student, Ann Dunham, on the island of Maui.
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