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Event
Information:
US
Independence Day is a national
holiday marked by patriotic
displays. Similar to other
summer-themed events, Independence
Day celebrations often take place
outdoors. Independence Day is a
federal holiday, so all
non-essential federal institutions
(like the postal service and federal
courts) are closed on that day. Many
politicians make it a point on this
day to appear at a public event to
praise the nation's heritage, laws,
history, society, and people.
Families often celebrate
Independence Day by hosting or
attending a picnic or barbecue and
take advantage of the day off and,
in some years, long weekend to
gather with relatives. Decorations
(e.g., streamers, balloons, and
clothing) are generally colored red,
white, and blue, the colors of the
American flag. Parades often are in
the morning, while fireworks
displays occur in the evening at
such places as parks, fairgrounds,
or town squares.
In
Honolulu, Hawaii, the day is marked by a spectacular
fireworks display from a barge in Maunalua Bay at
8pm. Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states
(August 21, 1959), and is the only U.S. state made
up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost
island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an
archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest
of the continental United States, southeast of
Japan, and northeast of Australia. Hawaii’s natural
beauty, warm tropical climate, inviting waters and
waves, and active volcanoes make it a popular
destination for tourists, surfers, biologists, and
volcanologists alike. Due to its mid-Pacific
location, Hawaii has many North American and Asian
influences along with its own vibrant native
culture. Hawaii has over a million permanent
residents along with many visitors and U.S. military
personnel. Its capital is Honolulu on the island of
Oahu.
The
state encompasses nearly the entire volcanic
Hawaiian Island chain, which comprises hundreds of
islands spread over 1,500 miles (2,400 km). At the
southeastern end of the archipelago, the eight "main
islands" are (from the northwest to southeast)
Niihau, Kauai, Oahu, Molokai, Lānai, Kahoolawe,
Maui, and Hawaii. The last is by far the largest and
is often called "The Big Island" to avoid confusion
with the state as a whole. The archipelago is
physiographically and ethnologically part of the
Polynesian subregion of Oceania.
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