Most islands are low coralline atolls with palm-lined beaches.
Others are high islands with impressive mountains formed by volcanic disturbances beneath the sea. In fact, if you hitch a ride on AirMic from Honolulu and soar southwest over 3,000 miles, you will find one of the most beautiful island jewels lounging in the deep blue of the tropical North Pacific. Like a great altar rising up from the deeps, Pohnpei lives up to its name. Picture a hulking green mass of steaming vegetation 14 miles in diameter, punctured by clusters of daunting rainforested mountains with white tropic birds reeling lazily high above their slopes. The two highest of these surreal peaks thrust up to nearly 2,600 feet, their carpeted heads buried deep in the fume of the cloud forest.