People love to pack up their suntan lotion and head to the Hawaiian Islands for a little rest and relaxation. About 7 million sun-seekers hop aboard airline flights each year to bask in Hawaii’s warm rays and aloha spirit. Of those many visitors, nearly 60 percent are Americans eager to temporarily escape their hectic, stress-filled lives on the mainland, more than 2,000 miles to the east of this paradise way, way out in the Pacific Ocean.

A long list of incredible attractions lures them—gorgeous sandy beaches, lush tropical rain forests with brightly colored flowers, breathtakingly beautiful sea cliffs that soar thousands of feet into the sunny sky, the dreamiest of sunsets, some of the world’s best hotels and golf courses, crystal-clear water that's perfect for snorkeling and scuba diving, world-class deep-sea fishing, and so much more.

These majestic islands so moved Mark Twain that he described them as “the loveliest fleet of islands that lies anchored in any ocean.”

This chain of mostly volcanic islands covering 6,443 square miles began emerging from the Pacific about 5 million years ago. It’s believed that Polynesians from the Marquesas Group, north of Tahiti, first inhabited them between the 3rd and 7th centuries AD. Then, in 1778, Captain James Cook became the first European to come across them, and shortly thereafter King Kamehameha successfully fought to unite the islands into one kingdom ruled by him.

Much change came during the next 100 years. Hawaii established itself as a player in the east-west fur trade, the whaling industry took off in the islands, missionaries introduced the natives to Christianity, and the production of sugar cane began. Immigrants from Asia were brought in to help cultivate the cane crop, which expanded the ethnic diversity.

Hawaii became the country’s 50th state in 1959. These days, only 22 percent of the overall population of about 1.2 million people are native or part Hawaiian; the rest are mainly Caucasian, Japanese, Filipino, and Chinese.

Of Hawaii’s more than 130 isles and atolls, eight are considered major islands: the Big Island, Kahoolawe, Kauai, Lanai, Maui, Molokai, Niihau, and Oahu. Six of the eight welcome visitors. Of the two that do not, Niihau is privately owned, and Kahoolawe is uninhabited.

All the main islands have a mixture of enticing attractions, but each one also has its own distinctive appeal. Oahu, where more than 70 percent of the population lives, is the most cosmopolitan, mainly because it’s home to Honolulu and famed Waikiki Beach. Maui, where development has boomed over the last quarter-century, is the hippest. With its many natural attractions, Kauai caters to those who love the outdoors. Given its large size, the Big Island has something for everyone, including erupting volcanoes and snowcapped peaks for skiing. Lanai pampers the wealthy in a private, secluded setting. Molokai, where time has seemingly stood still, embraces the Hawaiian lifestyle of yesteryear.

So pick one or two (or more), and then unwind and enjoy yourself in the sunny paradise that so captivated Mark Twain.