Another reason why I know we have been here too long:  The other day we got more mail than the kids that live in the house in front!  And they get a LOT of mail!  (Just not that day.  We got three things and they got one.)😁

We are starting to have company come!  Yippee!  The Harker's were here for about two weeks.  That will be it's own blog.  But in getting ready for kids to come, I found these fun facts about Hawaii.  So I thought I would share.

Fun Facts on Hawaii

Hawaii consists of eight major islands plus 124 minor islands, reefs and shoals, strung across the Pacific for over 1,500 miles. The eight major islands are O'ahu, Maui, Hawai'i (known as "the Big Island"), Kaua'i, Moloka'i, Lāna'i, Kaho'olawe (uninhabited) and Ni'ihau (privately owned).

How old are the Hawaiian Islands?

Here are the approximate ages of the largest and youngest Hawaiian Islands, all on the eastern end of the chain. Big Island of Hawaii 300,000 years old (and still enlarging now)
Haleakala (east half of Maui) 750,000 years old (last erupted about 210 years ago)

Sometimes called “The Gathering Place,” Oahu certainly lives up to its name. The third largest Hawaiian island is home to the majority of Hawaii's diverse population, a fusion of east and west cultures rooted in the values and traditions of the Native Hawaiian people.

Oʻahu (pronounced [oˈʔɐhu]) or Oahu /oʊˈɑːhuː/, known as "The Gathering Place", is the third largest of the Hawaiian Islands; however, it is home to about two-thirds of the population of the U.S. state of Hawaii, and is the home of Honolulu International Airport.

Hawaii state's nickname is "Aloha State', because the word 'Aloha' is one of the most commonly used words in Hawaiian Language. Based on the context, Aloha can mean 'hello', 'welcome', 'love', 'best wishes' or even 'goodbye'

The state flag of Hawaii has the Union Jack of the United Kingdom at the canton. The field of the flag is composed of eight horizontal stripes (from top to bottom: white, red, blue, white, red, blue, white, red) symbolizing the eight inhabited islands (Hawaii, Oahu, Kauai, Kahoolawe, Lānai, Maui, Molokai and Niihau). Flag of Hawaii is a deliberate hybrid of British flag and American flag to showcase the roles played by Great Britain and United States in the history of Hawaii.

Hawaii is the only US state with a tropical rain forest.

Iolani Palace, in Honolulu, is the only royal palace in the United States. Electric lights illuminated Iolani Palace four years before the White House in Washington D.C. had 

them.

Hawaii is the only US state made up entirely of islands. It is composed of 132 islands - eight main islands (Hawaii, Maui, Oahu, Kauai, Molokai, Lanai, Niihau and Kahoolawe) and 124 islets, reefs, and shoals. Hawaii is the southernmost state in the USA.

From east to west, Hawaii is the second widest state in the United States (behind Alaska), measuring 1,523 miles (2,451 km) from the island of Ni’ihau to the island of Hawai’i.

Ka Lae on the Big Island of Hawaii is the southernmost point in the United States.

Hawaii is the only U.S. state that grows coffee, cocoa, and vanilla beans.

The Big Island (Hawaii Island) is getting bigger by about 42 acres each year because of the continuous eruption of the Kīlauea Volcano. It's been erupting for 30 years. 

The Hawaii is one of four US states that have outlawed billboards. (The others are Alaska, Maine, and Vermont.)

Haleakalā (means 'House of the Sun') is the world's largest dormant volcano. It forms more than 75% of the Hawaiian Island of Maui. Its crater is 3,000 feet deep, 7.5 miles long by 2.5 miles wide.

By law, no building on Kauai is allowed to be built taller than a palm tree.

The word Hawaii is from the Proto-Polynesian hawaiki, meaning 'place of the gods' or 'homeland'.

Mauna Loa, the world's biggest volcano, presents out-of-the-world experience on Earth. NASA Astronauts got trained for moon voyages by walking on its lava fields.

Hawaii is one of the three US states that are antipodal (diametrically opposite on the otherside of the globe) to inhabited land. Hawaii and Oahu islands lie exact opposite to the African nations of Botswana and Namibia. So, if you start digging a straight hole in Honolulu and manage to come on the other side of the globe, you will come out in Botswana/Namibia.

Niihau, the seventh largest of the Hawaiian Islands, was purchased by Elizabeth Sinclair in 1864 from King Kamehameha V for $10,000 in gold and private ownership passed on to her descendants, the Robinson family.

Hawaii is the only state in United States where whites (Caucasians) are in minority. About 38% of Hawaii's population are of Asian ancestry.

The Hawaiian Islands are the projecting tops of the biggest mountain range in the world. Under-sea volcanoes that erupted millions of years ago formed the islands of Hawaii.

The Hawaiian archipelago spans the distance of 1,523 miles (2,451 km), making Hawaii the longest island chain in the world.

Pearl Harbor near Honolulu is a United States Navy deep-water naval base. It was shot into headlines when Japan attacked Pearl Harbor on Sunday, December 7, 1941, an event that brought the USA into World War II.

Hawaiian language has only 12 letters (A, E, I, O, U, H, K, L, M, N, P and W) and a symbol called 'okina (') and it indicated a glottal stop (slight pause) 'Okina is often represented by the apostrophe (') but its official symbol (') In Hawaiian language, Hawaii is written as: Hawai'i. Every word in Hawaiian language has to end with one of five vowels (A, E, I, O, U) The kahakō symbol is a line placed over a vowel. It directs speakers to stretch out a vowel sound.  The vowel sounds are like the sounds of vowels in Spanish:  a= ah, e= long a, i=ee, o= oh, u=oo.

Hawaii is the 8th smallest, the 11th least populous, but the 13th most densely populated of the 50 U.S. states.

Hawaii has its own time zone (Hawaiian Standard Time).  It's also one of two U.S. states that doesn't follow Daylight Saving Time. (Arizona is the other.)

Molokai’s north shore is home to the world’s largest sea cliffs (more than 3,000 ft. or 914 m. high) and Hawaii’s longest waterfall (Kahiwa Falls – 2,165 ft. or 660 m. long)

Kalaaupapa on Molokai was once a leper colony. It was administered by Father Damien, a Flemish Catholic missionary, who later died of leprosy he contacted while treating the patients.

Hawaii is the most isolated population center on the face of the earth. Hawaii is 2,390 miles from California; 3,850 miles from Japan; 4,900 miles from China; and 5,280 miles from the Philippines.

At less than half a million years old, Hawaii Big Island is the youngest of the Hawaiian Islands. As it is still forming, the Big Island is lacking in good beaches (We need to wait for 5 million years to get beaches on the Big Island.) At 6 million years old Kauai is the oldest of the Hawaiian Islands.

Standing 13,803 ft (4,207 m) above sea level, the peak of Mauna Kea is the highest point in the state of Hawaii. Mauna Kea is a dormant volcano on the Big island of Hawaii. It is the world's biggest and tallest volcano. It is also the tallest (not highest, because most of it is under the sea) mountain on Earth. When measured from its oceanic base, its height is 33,100 ft. (10,100 m.) Mount Everest is world's highest (not tallest) mountain as its peak is 8,848 meters (29,029 ft.) above sea level.

Hawaii's coastline is approximately 750 miles (1,210 km) long, which is fourth in the United States after those of Alaska, Florida and California.

Kauai, also known as the 'Garden Isle' is famous for its jagged green mountains, white-sand beaches and tropical landscapes. More than 60 Hollywood movies have been filmed here, including Jurassic Park.

A luau is a traditional Hawaiian party or feast that is usually accompanied by entertainment. Many families celebrate a child's first birthday with a luau. Graduation luaus and wedding luaus are also common.

Lei is a wreath of any of nature's gifts (flowers, leaves seeds, nuts etc.) presented upon arriving or leaving as a symbol of affection. A lei is usually given with a kiss. It is impolite to refuse a lei or remove it in front of the person who presented it. Only open lei are given to a pregnant woman. Lei should never be thrown away casually. It should be returned to the earth by hanging as a decoration, burying, or burning.

Hawaii is the only state in the United States to honor a monarch, celebrating King Kamehameha Day on June 11th since 1872. King Kamehameha I (Kamehameha the Great) is known for uniting the Hawaiian Islands in 1810.

Diamond Head

Hawaii Facts and Trivia

1. The state of Hawaii consists of eight main islands: Niihau, Kauai, Oahu, Maui, Molokai, Lanai, Kahoolawe and the Big Island of Hawaii.
2. Hawaii is the most isolated population center on the face of the earth. Hawaii is 2,390 miles from California; 3,850 miles from Japan; 4,900 miles from China; and 5,280 miles from the Philippines.
3. Hawaii is the only state that grows coffee.
4. More than one-third of the world's commercial supply of pineapples comes from Hawaii.
5. There are only 12 letters in the Hawaiian alphabet.Vowels: A, E, I, O, U Consonants: H, K, L, M, N, P, W
6. From east to west Hawaii is the widest state in the United States.
7. The Hawaiian Islands are the projecting tops of the biggest mountain range in the world.
8. Honolulu's zenith star, (the star that rises directly above it) is Arcturus. The Hawaiians called it Hokule'a. (Hoe koo lay uh.)
9. Under-sea volcanoes that erupted thousands of years ago formed the islands of Hawaii.
10. The Hawaiian Archipelago consists of over 130 scattered points of land stretching some 1,600 miles in length from the Kure Atoll in the north to the Island of Hawaii in the south.
11. The first Asian American in the United States Senate was Hawaii's Hiram Fong. Descended from Chinese immigrants, Fong was elected to the Senate in 1959.
12. Hawaii was the 50th state admitted to the union on August 20th, 1959.
13. Island flowers and colors used to represent each island.
    • Niihau - Pupu Shell - White
    • Kauai - Mokihana (Green Berry) - Purple
    • Oahu - Ilima -Yellow
    • Maui - Lokelani (Pink Cottage Rose) - Pink
    • Molokai - White Kukui Blossom - Green
    • Lanai - Kaunaoa (Yellow and Orange Air Plant) - Orange
    • Kahoolawe - Hinahina (Beach Heliotrope) - Grey
    • Big Island of Hawaii - Lehua Ohia - Red
14. Hawaii has its own time zone (Hawaiian Standard Time.) There is no daylight savings time.) The time runs two hours behind Pacific Standard Time and five hours behind Eastern Standard Time.
15. There are four counties in Hawaii (Kauai; city and county of Honolulu; Maui; and Hawaii). Each city has a mayor and council in charge.
16. All subterranean minerals belong to the state. Except for state owned water, some lava stone, and minor granites and semi-precious minerals, there are few underground minerals.
17. The wind blows east to west in Hawaii. The highest recorded temperature is 96' F (Honolulu Airport), but temperatures over 92' F generally occur only once or twice a year. The lowest temperature (under 3000 feet altitude) is 56' F. Temperatures under 60' F may occur but rarely more than once a year. Average daytime temp. (July) is 82' F. Average daytime temperature in January is 72' F.
18. There are no racial or ethnic majorities in Hawaii. Everyone is a minority. Caucasians (Haoles) constitute about 34%; Japanese-American about 32%; Filipino-American about 16% and Chinese-American about 5%. It is very difficult to determine racial identification as most of the population has some mixture of ethnicities.
19. ISLAND OF NIIHAU A privately owned island, with livestock raising as its principal industry. There is highly limited access by general public through helicopter landings at uninhabited sites. Legend says Niihau was the original home of the goddess Pele. The island has a population of 230, and is 69 square miles.
20. ISLAND OF KAUAI
    • The fourth largest of the Hawaiian Islands.
    • The Waialua River is one of five navigable river in Hawaii. It drains off Waialeale Mountain, which averages 488 inches of rain per year and is considered the wettest spot on earth.
    • The Waimea, the Hanape'pe, the Lumahai and the Hanalei River are almost as big and quite navigable. The Hanalei River wasdedicated a "national treasure" recently and is under government protection from use as a "place of business".
21. ISLAND OF OAHU
    • Honolulu is the largest city in the world -- at least it has the longest borders. According to the state constitution any island (or islet) not named as belonging to a county belongs to Honolulu. This makes all islands within the Hawaiian Archipelago, that stretch to Midway Island (1,500 miles northwest of Hawaii) part of Honolulu. Honolulu is about 1,500 miles long or more distance than halfway across the 48 contiguous states.
    • Wai Golf Course is Hawaii's first municipal course.
    • Honolulu is the nation's 11th largest metropolitan area.
    • More than 100 world-renowned beaches ring Honolulu.
    • Iolani Palace is the only royal palace in the United States.
    • The world's largest wind generator is on the island of Oahu. The windmill has two blades 400 feet long on the top of a tower twenty stories high.
    • The island of Oahu draws more visitors than any other to Hawaii. One-third of the state's best surfing beaches are on Oahu.
22. ISLAND OF MAUI
    • The island is home to many famous attractions including Haleakala Crater, the old whaling town of Lahaina, the road to Hana, and Kaanapali Beach.
    • Haleakala Crater (Ha-lay-ah-ja-lah), is the world's largest dormant volcano.
23. ISLAND OF MOLOKAI
    • Molokai is known as the most Hawaiian Isle.
    • Molokai's east end is a tropical rain forest and part of the island receives 240 inches of rainfall a year.
    • Molokai Ranch Wildlife Park is home to rare African and Indian animals.
    • Kalaaupapa was once a leper colony administered by Father Damien.
    • The island contains the world's highest sea cliffs, Hawaii's longest waterfall, and the largest white sand beach in the state.
24. ISLAND OF LANAI
    • The island of Lanai is considered Hawaii's most secluded.
    • The island was once the home of the world's largest pineapple plantations.
    • Hulope Bay is a marine preserve and considered one of the best diving spots in the world.
25. ISLAND OF KAHOOLAWE Once used as a target by the U.S. Navy and Air Force the services are cleaning up unexploded shells. No one is allowed to go ashore without permission. The island consists of an uninhabited area of 45 square miles.
26. THE BIG ISLAND OF HAWAII The Big Island is Hawaii's largest at 4,038 square miles. It is twice the size of all other Hawaiian Islands combined.
27. The largest contiguous ranch, in the United States, is in Hawaii. The Parker Ranch near Kamuela has about 480,000 acres of land.
28. At 800,000 years the Big Island is the youngest of the island chain. However, it was the first island discovered by voyaging Polynesians.
29. Kilauea volcano is the world's most active.
30. Ka Lae is the southernmost point in the United States. It is located at 18:54:49 N 155:41:00 W.   There is a constant 27 knots per hour wind blowing east to west, 24 hours per day and 365 days per year.
31. Two of the tallest mountains in the Pacific - Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa - dominate the center of the island. Most of the world's macadamia nuts are grown on the island.
32. Kilauea Iki is the world's most active and largest volcano.
33. Mauna Kea is the tallest mountain in the world (measured from its base at the ocean floor).
34. The island houses the world's biggest telescope and more scientific observatories in one place than anywhere else in the world.
35. The island is the worldwide leader in harvesting macadamia nuts and orchids.