Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The government of Hawai'i is limited to two levels, the state and the county, of which the
islands of Maui, Moloka'i, Lana'i, and Kaho'olawe comprise Maui County. Politics and
government at one time were taken seriously in the Aloha State, which once consistently
turned in the best national voting record per capita. For example, in the first state elections,
173,000 of 180,000 registered voters cast ballots—a whopping 94 percent of the elector-
ate. These days, however, although there is still great voter turnout for state and local elec-
tions, Hawai'i boasts one of the worst voter turnouts for national presidential elections. In
the 2012 election, Hawai'i had a measly 62 percent of registered voters cast ballots, which
gave it the distinction of having the lowest turnout in the nation. Because of Hawai'i's
location in the far west, when presidential elections are held, the results are often known
before many in the state have time to cast their ballots. There is also a vocal minority that
sees no point on voting in an election for a nation they would rather not be a part of.
Hawai'i is the only state to have just a single school district. A packed schoolroom in
downtown Honolulu falls under the same set of guidelines as a one-room schoolhouse in
West Moloka'i. Consequently, the idea of moving to a neighborhood where the schools are
better isn't a part of Hawaiian life.
Today, tourism and the military are the two prime sources of income for Hawai'i. Tourists
come in anticipation of endless golden days on soothing beaches, while the military is
provided with the strategic position of an unsinkable battleship. Each economic sector nets
Hawai'i billions annually. Also contributing to the state revenue are, in descending pro-
portions, manufacturing, construction, and agriculture.
Tourism
Maui is the second-most-frequently chosen Hawaiian destination after O'ahu and wel-
comes more than two million visitors annually. On any given day about 40,000 visitors are
enjoying the island. Maui's most popular attractions are Haleakala National Park, Lahaina
town, the Maui Ocean Center, the Whalers Village Museum, 'Iao Valley, and Hana.
