Hawaii, the 50th state of the United States, is a beautiful and unique place that attracts visitors from all over the world. It is a land of stunning natural beauty, rich culture, and fascinating history. In this article, we will explore some interesting facts about Hawaii.
- Hawaii is the only state in the United States that is made up entirely of islands. It consists of eight main islands: Hawaii, Maui, Oahu, Kauai, Molokai, Lanai, Niihau, and Kahoolawe.
2. Hawaii is home to the world’s largest dormant volcano, Mauna Kea. It stands at 13,796 feet above sea level and is a popular spot for stargazing.
3. The Hawaiian Islands were formed by volcanic activity over millions of years. There are still active volcanoes in Hawaii, including Kilauea and Mauna Loa.
4. Hawaii is the only state in the United States with its own time zone. It is two hours behind Pacific Standard Time and five hours behind Eastern Standard Time.
5. The state flower of Hawaii is the yellow hibiscus. It is also known as the Pua Aloalo.
6. Hawaii is the only state in the United States with two official languages: English and Hawaiian. The Hawaiian language is an official language of the state, along with English.
7. Hawaii is the only state that honors a monarch, King Kamehameha. His statue stands in front of the Hawaii State Capitol building in Honolulu.
8. Hawaii has the highest life expectancy in the United States, with an average life expectancy of 81.3 years.
9. Hawaii is home to the largest international conservation effort in the world, the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument. It is a protected area that covers 583,000 square miles of ocean and is home to over 7,000 species of marine life.
10. Hawaii is the only state in the United States that grows coffee commercially. The Kona coffee grown in Hawaii is known for its rich flavor and is highly sought after by coffee lovers around the world.
11. Hawaii is home to the world’s largest pineapple maze. It is located on the Dole Pineapple Plantation on the island of Oahu.
12. Hawaii is the only state that grows cacao, the plant used to make chocolate. There are several chocolate farms on the Big Island of Hawaii.
13. Hawaii is the only state in the United States that has a royal palace. The Iolani Palace in Honolulu was the official residence of the Hawaiian monarchs.
14. Hawaii has the highest percentage of Asian Americans in the United States. Asian Americans make up 38.6% of the population.
15. Hawaii is the only state in the United States that has a law mandating the use of sunscreen. The law, which went into effect in 2021, requires that all sunscreen sold in Hawaii be free of chemicals that harm coral reefs.
16. Hawaii is home to the world’s largest wind generator. The generator is located on the island of Oahu and can produce enough electricity to power 7,700 homes.
17. Hawaii is the only state that grows taro, the plant used to make poi. Poi is a traditional Hawaiian food made by pounding taro root into a paste.
18. Hawaii has the lowest percentage of overweight and obese residents in the United States. Only 23.8% of the population is considered overweight or obese.
19. Hawaii is home to the largest ocean in the world, the Pacific Ocean. The Pacific Ocean covers more than one-third of the Earth’s surface.
20. Hawaii is the only state that grows breadfruit. Breadfruit is a starchy fruit that is used in many traditional Hawaiian dishes, including poi and breadfruit chips.
21. Hawaii is home to the only royal palace in the United States. The Iolani Palace in Honolulu was the official residence of the Hawaiian monarchs.
22. Hawaii is the birthplace of surfing. Surfing was invented in Hawaii by ancient Polynesians and is now a popular sport around the world.
23. Hawaii is the only state in the United States that does not have a straight line in its state boundary. The state boundary is made up entirely of curved lines.
24. Hawaii is the only state in the United States that produces vanilla commercially. Vanilla is grown on the Big Island of Hawaii and is used in many local dishes and desserts.
25. Hawaii is home to the world’s largest dormant volcano, Mauna Kea. It stands at 13,796 feet above sea level and is a popular spot for stargazing.
26. Hawaii is home to the world’s largest telescope. The Keck Observatory on Mauna Kea is one of the most advanced telescopes in the world.
27. Hawaii is the only state in the United States that has a royal order of knighthood. The Order of Kamehameha was established in 1865 by King Kamehameha V.
28. Hawaii is home to the world’s largest outdoor shopping center, Ala Moana Center. It has over 350 stores and attracts millions of visitors each year.
29. Hawaii has the highest percentage of multi-racial residents in the United States. Multi-racial residents make up 24.1% of the population.
30. Hawaii is home to the world’s largest volcano, Mauna Loa. It is an active volcano that last erupted in 1984.
31. Hawaii is the only state in the United States that does not have a state police force. Law enforcement is the responsibility of the county police departments.
32. Hawaii is the only state in the United States that has a royal mausoleum. The Royal Mausoleum in Honolulu is the final resting place of the Hawaiian monarchs.
33. Hawaii is home to the world’s largest military installation, Pearl Harbor. It is the headquarters of the United States Pacific Fleet and is also a popular tourist destination.
34. Hawaii has the highest cost of living in the United States. This is due to the high cost of importing goods to the islands.
35. Hawaii is the only state in the United States that has a statewide ban on billboards. The ban was put in place to preserve the natural beauty of the islands.
36. Hawaii is home to the world’s largest telescope, the Keck Observatory. It is located on the summit of Mauna Kea and is used by astronomers from around the world.
37. Hawaii is the only state in the United States that has a royal anthem. “Hawaii Ponoi” was adopted as the royal anthem in 1876.
38. Hawaii is home to the world’s largest marine wildlife sanctuary, the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary. It is a protected area that covers over 1,400 square miles of ocean.
39. Hawaii is the only state in the United States that has a law requiring all new buildings to have a solar water heater. The law was put in place to reduce the state’s dependence on imported oil.
40. Hawaii has the lowest murder rate in the United States. In 2020, there were only 19 murders in the entire state.
41. Hawaii is home to the world’s largest sea cliff, the Na Pali Coast. It is located on the island of Kauai and is a popular spot for hiking and sightseeing.
42. Hawaii is the only state in the United States that has a state fish. The Humuhum Nuku Nuku Apua’a, also known as the reef triggerfish, was designated as the official state fish in 1984.
43. Hawaii is home to the world’s largest waterfall, Akaka Falls. It is located on the Big Island of Hawaii and drops 442 feet.
44. Hawaii has the highest life expectancy in the United States. The average life expectancy in Hawaii is 81.3 years.
45. Hawaii is the only state in the United States that has its own time zone. Hawaii-Aleutian Standard Time is two hours behind Pacific Standard Time.
46. Hawaii is home to the world’s largest macadamia nut plantation. The Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut Corporation produces over 40 million pounds of macadamia nuts each year.
47. Hawaii has the highest percentage of residents with a bachelor’s degree or higher in the United States. 45.7% of the population has a bachelor’s degree or higher.
48. Hawaii is the only state in the United States that grows coffee commercially. Kona coffee is grown on the slopes of the Mauna Loa volcano on the Big Island of Hawaii.
49. Hawaii is home to the world’s largest lizard, the Jackson’s chameleon. It was introduced to Hawaii in the 1970s and has become an invasive species.
50. Hawaii is the only state in the United States that has a law requiring employers to provide health insurance for employees who work 20 or more hours per week. The law was enacted in 1974 and is known as the Hawaii Prepaid Health Care Act.
Conclusion
Hawaii is a unique and fascinating place with many interesting facts and features. From its stunning natural beauty to its rich cultural heritage, Hawaii has much to offer visitors and residents alike. Whether you’re interested in history, science, or just soaking up the sun on a beautiful beach, Hawaii has something for everyone to enjoy.
