15 Facts About Hawaii

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.

Hawai’i’s annexation followed soon after and eventually statehood in 1959.

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.

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.

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. 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.

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.

9. Everyone in Hawai’i is a minority.

Hawaiian, Filipino, Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Portuguese, African American — What do all of these ethnicities have in common? In Hawai’i, they are all minorities. Key West claims the southernmost part of the continental US, but South Point on Hawai’i Island, with its green sand beach and giant cliffs spilling into the Pacific, is the southernmost point of the entire United States.

The Native Hawaiian population decreased dramatically after western contact by Captain Cook in 1778 brought influenza, smallpox, and sexually transmitted diseases.

Further, in the 1850s, immigrants from Japan, China, Korea, and the Philippines began arriving to work in the growing and successful sugar business on sugarcane fields throughout the islands.

While sugar production is now a retired practice in the islands, many families have rooted themselves here, becoming the diverse population known as Hawai’i’s melting pot.

10. All beaches are public in Hawai’i.

Much to the joy of residents and tourists alike, all beaches are public access in Hawaii.

Residents or businesses who attempt to obstruct public access to beaches can face hefty fines.

13. Hawai’i is the only US state that grows coffee.

Hawai’i Island grows a majority of coffee, with the Kona district growing the bulk of it. Coffee does well in Hawai’i’s warm, tropical climate, high elevations, and rich soil.

Kona coffee has earned a reputation of being exceptionally aromatic and tasty, making it one of the most expensive coffees in the world.

14. Hawai’i does not observe Daylight Savings Time.

When the rest of the US springs ahead or falls behind, adjusting their clocks an hour forward or backward, Hawai’i’s clocks stay exactly the same. Hawai’i observes its own time zone, Hawai’i Standard Time.

15. Hawai’i is the only state whose landmass is growing due to volcanic eruptions.

Perhaps one of the best things about Hawai’i is that its landmass is not finite: Hawai’i continues to grow.

11. Oahu has a small population of wallabies living in Kalihi Valley.

A popular urban myth that a small group of wallabies, native to Australia, are living in Hawai’i has been proven with several sightings of this elusive marsupial.

Said to have escaped from the Honolulu Zoo, a pair of wallabies grew their small population, which now live mostly in Kalihi Valley on Oahu.

12. The southernmost part of the United States is actually on Hawai’i Island.

The Hawaiian Islands are formed due to being situated atop a geothermal “hot spot” deep under the ocean’s surface.

Hawai’i Island is home to Kilauea, the world’s most active volcano, which is continuously erupting.

The lava that spurts up hits sea level and creates new landmass, meaning there is more Hawai’i being made every day.

Republic of the Marshall Islands.

These Pacific Territories and Freely Associated States have tight connections with the US.

I have traveled and worked extensively in these areas and can tell you that without representation, these areas struggle and do not have all the benefits like being a State but at least are protected by the US.

Other small independent island countries in the Pacific Ocean today have some affiliation with a superpower country.

Island countries like Tuvalu, Nauru, Kiribati, have signed alliances with the US, Australia, UK and others.

These countries all have similar fates to that of Hawai’i.

Due to the lack of natural resources and sustainable exports, these countries have become reliant on external activities such as tourism, serving as a detention center, plantations, and financial assistance. Today’s struggle amongst the super powers and Hawai’i’s strategic geographical position in the Pacific could mean very different fates for us.

Are we better off being protected by the US, or could we be treated better by another super power?

Do the people of Hawai’i believe in the same causes that are going on in the United States today, some at the point of chaos and bloodshed.

I know one thing for sure, Hawai’i has much more respectable people who protest and make their views known peacefully.

I ask you to think if protestors reflect your views and beliefs. Are Hawai’i’s peaceful protests successful in effecting awareness and change?

Many of these island countries were also explored and even exploited by Spain, Portugal, Russia, Great Britain, France, Japan, Germany, and the United States throughout their history and reflect this contact in their culture. These are many parallels of what is happening in the country and even the world today.

Today, one has to figure out if protests reflect my views and desires?

Do I want to get involved in civil unrest or even violence and destruction? Is it going to achieve what I believe in?

Will it backfire and cause just the opposite of the outcome I want? One has to ask oneself how far am I willing to go to effect desired change.

So let me postulate, that if Hawai’i was not part of the US, it could be part of another country or an independent country. What would be better or worse?