February

What island group constitutes our 50th state?

This island group, the northernmost in Polynesia, makes up our 50th state. It was admitted to the union in 1959.

It is the 8th smallest, but the 13th most densely populated, state in the Union. It is the only state with an Asian plurality, and its 750-mile coastline makes it the 4th longest in the U.S., behind California, Florida, and Alaska.

I was there four years ago, and my parents are heading there next month. In 2003, according to government data, more than 6 million people visited these islands.