With its sandy beaches, lush rain forests, majestic waterfalls, and towering cliffs, Hawaii has come to embody for many the archetypical tropical paradise. This archipelago of volcanic islands is located smack dab in the middle of Pacific Ocean, over 2,000 miles off the West Coast of the United States. Over the past few decades, tourism has supplanted sugarcane, pineapples, and whaling as the cornerstone of Hawaii's economy. Over 7 million visitors flock to the islands each year to enjoy surfing, kayaking, hiking, swimming with dolphins, or stuffing themselves at a traditional Hawaiian luau.