GreatPlacesToRetire |
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Hawaii, the 50th state admitted to the Union in 1959, is a group of islands in the central Pacific Ocean.
Hawaii's eight main islands have a permanent population of just over 1 million. The capital and largest city is Honolulu, on the island of Oahu. The next largest city is Pearl City, also on Oahu, with a population of about 50,000.
Hawaii was created from volcanic activity. Currently, the only active volcanoes are on the southern coast and just off the coast of Hawaii, the Big Island. The climate is tropical with mild seasons year-round. Precipitation levels are very high with some areas receiving hundreds of inches of rain per year.
Hawaii's economy is led by tourism and U.S. military spending. Agriculture exports include coffee, macadamia nuts and pineapple. Hawaii ranks as a low tax state though state income tax marginal rates are high for the high-income set.
Kailua, a suburb of Honolulu, is included in our survey of best places to retire. Get a video tour of Kailua at Hawaii videos.
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