15 Facts You Didn’t Know About Hawai‘i
Article Courtesy of Jill Kozak of Matador Network Published 11/9/17. Reprinted with permission.
1. Hawaii was illegally overthrown by the U.S. During Queen Liliuokalani’s reign in 1893, a group of men from Liliuokalani’s cabinet known as The Committee of Public Safety, executed a military coup to overthrow the Hawaiian Kingdom. In its aftermath, President Grover Cleveland was in favor of restoring the monarchy, but his successor, President William McKinley, saw Hawai’i as a strategic power for US troops fighting in the Spanish-American War.
4. The Hawaiian Islands are the most geographically isolated island chain on Earth. More than 2,000 miles away from any other place, Hawai’i is the most isolated island chain on Earth, so it’s no wonder our unique flora, fauna, and frankly, grocery prices, tend to amaze people. Hawai’i’s ecosystem developed in almost total isolation, making it more endemic than even the Galapagos Islands. 5. The Hawaiian alphabet only has 12 letters. For non-native speakers and tourists, Hawaiian names can be a challenge.
Hawai’i’s annexation followed soon after and eventually statehood in 1959. 2. 137 islands make up the Hawaiian Islands. In Hawai’i, there are eight major islands: Oahu, Maui, Hawai’i Island, Kauai, Lana’i, Moloka’i, Niihau, and Kahoolawe. In total, Hawai’i is comprised of 137 islands including the major eight, islets, atolls, and reefs.
The reason why might be because the Hawaiian alphabet only contains 12 letters. 6. There are no snakes in Hawai‘i. Hawai’i has worked hard to keep snakes out of the state in order to protect native birds and other species. Those found smuggling snakes into the state can face three years in jail and fines upwards of $200,000. 7. There are no billboards in Hawai’i. The first of four states to ban billboards, Hawai’i enjoys wide open spaces free from billboards so that our residents can enjoy distraction-free, scenic driving.
3. Hawai’i has 10 of the world’s 14 climate zones. On Hawai’i Island alone, you can find all 10 zones: from tropical and continuously wet to hot desert and periglacial ice climates, you see and experience pretty much everything Earth has to offer on one island.
8. Gambling is illegal in Hawai’i. Hawai’i doesn’t have casinos, nor does it allow for gambling onboard a ship, or anyplace gambling activities can take place. Hawai’i doesn’t have the lottery either, so the price to live in paradise won’t be covered by your lottery win.
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