The Hawaiian Islands make up a tropical paradise that sits in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, 2,500 miles away from the nearest land. The waters that surround the islands are various shades of blue and gentle trade winds blow across the isles. For 400 years, determined Polynesians on far away islands tried to sail those winds, following the migration of the Golden Plover, to new islands they believed must be there. Their canoes could never keep up with the birds and they had to turn back. They kept trying for 400 years before they finally made it to the Hawaiian archipelago!