Hawaii is a state in the Western United States, located in the Pacific Ocean about 2,000 miles (3,200 km) from the U.S. mainland. It is the only U.S. state outside North America, the only state that is an archipelago, and the only state geographically located within the tropics.
Hawaii comprises nearly the entire Hawaiian archipelago, 137 volcanic islands spanning 1,500 miles (2,400 km) that are physiographically and ethnologically part of the Polynesian subregion of Oceania.
The state’s ocean coastline is consequently the fourth longest in the U.S., at about 750 miles (1,210 km).
The eight main islands, from northwest to southeast, are Niʻihau, Kauaʻi, Oʻahu, Molokaʻi, Lānaʻi, Kahoʻolawe, Maui, and Hawaiʻi, after which the state is named; it is often called the “Big Island” or “Hawaii Island” to avoid confusion with the state or archipelago.
Of the 50 U.S. states, Hawaii is the eighth-smallest in land area and the 11th-least populous, but with 1.4 million residents ranks 13th in population density. Two-thirds of the population lives on O’ahu, home to the state’s capital and largest city, Honolulu.
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List of facts
Hawaii is located in the Pacific Ocean about 2,000 miles from the U.S. mainland.
Hawaii is the eighth-smallest in land area and the 11th-least populous
Hawaii is the southernmost U.S. state and the second westernmost after Alaska.
Settled by Polynesians some time between 1000 and 1200 CE
The Kingdom of Hawaiʻi was sovereign from 1810 until 1893 when the monarchy was overthrown by resident American and European capitalists and landholders
Hawaiʻi was an independent republic from 1894 until August 12, 1898
kilauea
There are 137 islands in the archipelago. Eight of them are considered major islands: Hawaii, Niihau, Kauai, Kahoolawe, Oahu, Lanai, Molokai, and Maui.
In 1778, British explorer James Cook was the first known non-Polynesian to arrive at the archipelago
Early British influence is reflected in the state flag, which bears a Union Jack
Two-thirds of the population lives on O’ahu, home to the state’s capital and largest city, Honolulu.
Hawaii became a unified, internationally recognized kingdom in 1810
The state’s coastline is the fourth longest in the U.S. after the coastlines of Alaska, Florida, and California
Hawaii is the most recent state to join the union, on August 21, 1959
Hawaii hosts the U.S. Pacific Fleet, the world’s largest naval command
Hawaii is the only US state composed entirely of islands.
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Hawaii is the only state with an official native/second language, Hawaiian.
Hawaiʻi’s tallest mountain Mauna Kea is 13,796 ft (above mean sea level
If Mauna Kea is measured from the base of the mountain, which lies on the floor of the Pacific Ocean it is about 33,500 feet
There are eight main Hawaiian islands. Seven are inhabited, but only six are open to tourists and locals
The warmest temperature recorded in the state, in Pahala on April 27, 1931, is 100 °F
Hawaiʻi’s record low temperature is 12 °F (−11 °C) observed in May 1979, on the summit of Mauna Kea
The highest peak in the state of Hawaii is Mauna Kea, a dormant volcano with a peak 13,803 feet about sea level.
There are only twelve letters in the Hawaiian alphabet: A, E, I, O, U, H, K, L, M, N, P, and W.
The monk seal is the official state animal of Hawaii.
The Candlenut Tree is the official state tree of Hawaii
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The official state flower of Hawaii is the yellow hibiscus.
The official song of the state of Hawaii is called ‘Hawaii Ponoi’
The state motto of Hawaii is “ua mau ke ea o ka aina i ka pono,” which means “the life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness.”
Hawaii State Bird is called the Nene-Branta sandvicensis
The official state bird of Hawaii is the nēnē, which is a Hawaiian goose.
There are no snakes in Hawaii.
The island of Hawaii has eight active volcanoes, and there are five additional active volcanoes on the other islands
Hawaiian pizza isn’t actually from Hawaii.
Hawaii is the only state that grows coffee.
It’s also the worldwide leader in harvesting macadamia nuts
pineapples
More than one-third of the world’s commercial supply of pineapples comes from Hawaii.
HI is the Two-letter or Postal Abbreviation and Hawaii is the Traditional or Standard Abbreviation for the State of Hawaii.
Hawaii has its own time zone (Hawaiian Standard Time.)
Hawaiians take their shoes off before entering a house.
The world’s largest plant maze is located in Wahiawa, Hawaii at the Dole Plantation
Only two states in the U.S. do not observe daylight saving time. One is Hawaii and the other is Arizona
Barack Obama, the 44th President of the United States, was born on August 4, 1960 in Honolulu, Hawaii.
Jason Momoa was born in Nānākuli, about 30 miles away from Honolulu.
Pearl Harbor Naval Base is located in Hawaii on the island of Oahu
More than 60 movies have been filmed in Kauai’s tropical rain forest including Jurassic Park.
Pearl Harbor Naval Base was attacked by Japan on Dec. 7, 1941, and this was responsible for the U.S. entering World War II
pearl harbor
The Hawaiian word “Aloha” is used as a simple greeting. It is also a word for love, affection, and peace.
Hawaii and Utah are the only two states in the U.S. where gambling is illegal
Billboards are not allowed in Hawaii because they’re seen as taking away from the scenic views
There’s a limit on the height of buildings on Kaua’i Island. That limit is the height of the tallest palm tree on the island.
Hawaii is the only American state with a rainforest.
Hawaii has the world’s highest sea cliffs. They rise over 600 meters above the Pacific Ocean.
There are no racial or ethnic majorities in Hawaii. Everyone is a minority.
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