79 Hawaii Facts and Weird Laws

By Sabrina E.
Published on

Hawaii is one of the 50 states of the United States. Hawaii became the 50th state of the United States on August 21, 1959. It is the only state in the tropics that is not in North America and is an island nation. Hawaii is one of four US states that were once sovereign nations, along with Vermont, Texas, and California. Hawaii is a group of volcanic islands in the central Pacific Ocean.

The islands are 5,293 miles west of Manila, Philippines, and 2,397 miles east of San Francisco, California. The capital is Honolulu, which is located on the island of Oahu.

Due to the state’s various manufacturing and agriculture sectors, Hawaii’s economy is booming. In addition, satellite communications, oceanography, astronomy, geophysics, and biomedical research and development are all key national and international interests in Hawaii.

Because it is strategically important to the United States’ worldwide security system and serves as a transportation hub for the Pacific basin, the state is known as the Pacific Crossroads.

If you’re considering visiting or maybe relocating to the State of Hawaii, here is the place to go. 

Let’s have a look at some fun Hawaii facts you may not be aware of.

Best Fun Facts About Hawaii

  1. You get the most amazing sweets like no place else. You can double up on the pineapples with the famous pineapple split.
  2. You can only get the most delicious purple ube cheesecakes and purple poi doughnuts in Hawaii.
  3. Get the freshest tofu you can find and devour yourself with the rich cuisine. Also, try the hand-pounded Hawaiian dish. Sear your tuna on a rock.
  4. You can take a dip in a swimming hole made by lava rocks.
  5. There is an adventure for every adventurer. Go tubing through tunnels. The path used to be an irrigation system for a sugar plantation.
  6. You’re allowed to hike up to see the most active volcano in Hawaii.
  7. Jump off the Southernmost point in the US.
Welcome to Hawaii state concept on road sign

Hawaii Facts — Politics And Government

Image: Amazon
  1. The governor and lieutenant governor are elected on a joint ticket for four-year terms. They are not permitted to serve more than two consecutive terms.
  2. Former President Barack Obama was born in Hawaii.
  3. The only other elected members in the 17 departments of the executive branch are the members of the Board of Education.
  4. Hawaii’s bicameral legislature consists of the Senate, with 25 elected representatives from 25 senatorial districts serving four-year terms. The House of Representatives consists of 51 members elected from single-member districts for two-year terms. Honolulu is the regional headquarters of the federal government.
  5. Hawaii’s local governmental structure is unique among the US states in that it is limited to two levels of government: the state and the four counties, each with a mayor and a council. There are no municipal governments. State and county governments are also major employers.
  6. The headquarters of the U.S. Pacific Command are at Camp H.M. Smith in Halawa Heights on Oahu. More than 100,000 US military personnel and their dependents are stationed in Hawaii or have their home port. Their presence has an important influence on the local economy and social life.
  7. Midway Island, near the western end of the archipelago, was a US naval preserve for many years. It has since come under the US Fish and Wildlife Service management, which allows limited ecotourism.

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Hawaii Facts — History

Image: Pinterest
  1. Hawaii has been continuously inhabited since about 300 BCE, according to archeological records.
  2. It is believed that the earliest inhabitants of the islands were Polynesian settlers from the Marquesas Islands. Later settlers may have also migrated to the islands from Tahiti and introduced some of the ancient cultural practices of the region; however, there is a debate about the islands’ early history.
  3. In 1810 Kamehameha became Hawaii’s first king. The islands continued to have royal rulers into the 1880s. 
  4. In 1898 Hawaii became a US territory. It was named the 50th state in 1959, and to this day, you can still visit Iolani Palace—the only royal building on US soil.
  5. Before the arrival of British Captain James Cook in 1778, the Hawaiian language was strictly oral. Natives were taught by missionaries to read their language to communicate the scriptures of the Bible. Banned in 1898 when Hawaii became a US Territory and then resurrected as the official language in 1978, Hawaiian contains only 13 letters: five vowels and eight consonants.
  6. August 21, 1959 – After a popular vote, Hawaii became the 50th state in the United States of America.
  7. In 1966 Don Ho released his signature song, “Tiny Bubbles.” The album makes the Billboard Top 20 and stays on the charts for nearly a year. His music and style become synonymous with Hawaiian leisure.
  8. In 1978 The Hawaii State Constitutional Convention made Hawaiian the state’s official language (the only state in the US with a non-English official language).
  9. The missionaries developed the written Hawaiian language and  Hawaiian alphabet, which has just 12 letters: the 5 vowels and 7 consonants (h, k, l, m, n, p, and w).
  10. In 1980 Hawaii became the home of the NFL Pro Bowl when the AFC-NFC all-star game landed in Oahu’s Aloha Stadium. The Pro Bowl has been hosted in Hawaii for 26 years, until 2017, when it moved to Orlando, FL.
  11. Kīlauea, one of the world’s most active volcanoes located on the island of Hawaii, erupted in 1990, sending lava through the town of Kalapana. While it destroyed the town, it also created a new coastline that extends nearly 1,000 feet farther into the Pacific Ocean.
  12. Senator Barack Obama was inaugurated as the 44th President of the United States in 2009. Obama, the first African American to have served as President, was born in Honolulu, Hawaii. 
  13. Hawaii hosted the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation in 2011.
  14. The Malama Honua Worldwide Voyage began in 2013. The four-year voyage covered over 60,000 nautical miles, 100 ports, and 27 nations, including 12 of UNESCO’s Marine World Heritage sites. The mission was to take Hawaii’s iconic cultural sailing canoe Hokulea worldwide and her sister canoe Hikianalia around the Pacific and the Hawaiian Islands, to grow a global movement toward a more sustainable world. The voyage sought to engage all – practicing living sustainably while sharing Polynesian culture, learning from the past and each other. 

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Hawaii Facts — Geography

Image: Trips To Discover
  1. Hawaii sits over 2,000 miles west of California.
  2. Mount Waialeale on Kauai is one of the wettest places on Earth. It receives an average of around 460 inches of rain each year.
  3. Standing 13,796 feet above sea level, Mauna Kea is Hawaii’s tallest volcano. But it stretches an additional 19,680 feet below the surface of the water, making Mauna Kea the tallest mountain in the world at 33,476 feet. Mount Everest’s elevation, measured from sea level, is 29,035 feet.
  4. Hawaii is the world’s largest island chain, and it’s the only US state completely made up of islands. But only 7 of its 132 islands are inhabited: Hawaii (also known as the Big Island), Maui, Molokai, Lanai, Oahu, Kauai, and Niihau.
  5. South Point on the Big Island holds the title of the southernmost point in the entire United States of America.
  6. Papahanaumokuakea covers 582,578 square miles of the Pacific and is bigger than all of America’s national parks combined. It is a World Heritage Site and the largest contiguous, fully protected conservation area under the US flag.
  7. The Earth’s crust is always moving. Just a little bit, but the hot spot that produces magma isn’t. So over time, the crust moved, but the hot spot remained—creating a series of volcanic islands.
  8.  Hawaii’s most active volcano is Kilauea, and you can see it at Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island. Kilauea has been erupting for over 30 years, and each year, its lava expands Hawaii by over 40 acres.
  9. Many beaches are filled with white sand, but other Hawaiian shores are covered with green, red, pink, and even black sand.
  10. Many beaches are filled with white sand, but other Hawaiian shores are covered with green, red, pink, and even black sand.
  11. The largest island by area is the island of Hawaii, also known as the Big Island, while the largest by population is Oahu.
  12. The other main islands of Hawaii are Maui, Lanai, Molokai, Kauai, and Niihau. Kahoolawe is the eighth island, and it is uninhabited.
  13. In addition to the main islands of Hawaii, there are also more than 100 small rocky islets that are a part of Hawaii. 
  14. All the inhabited islands in 1810 went under one rule: that of King Kamehameha the Great, who created the House of Kamehameha. This regime was abolished in 1872 due to the death of Kamehameha V. Governance of Hawaii rested with the House of Kalakaua in 1874 after a period of much political instability.
  15. Thanks to undersea volcanic activity due to a hotspot, the Hawaii Islands formed many centuries ago. Millions of years of tectonic plate shifting led to the creation of this chain of islands. They all used to be volcanic, but now only the Big Island features an active volcano thanks to its proximity to the hotspot. Kauai is the oldest and is set the farthest off from the hotspot. A new island has recently been forming, and it’s called the Loihi Seamount off the Big Island’s south coast.
  16. The topography of Hawaii varies based on the islands, but most of them have mountain ranges along with coastal plains.
  17. Kauai, for instance, has rugged mountains that go right up to its coast, while Oahu is divided by mountain ranges and has flatter areas.
  18. Since Hawaii is located in the tropics, its climate is mild, and summer highs are usually in the upper 80s (31˚C), and winters are in the low 80s (28˚C).
  19. Windward sides are typically wetter, while leeward sides are sunnier. Kauai has the second-highest average rainfall on Earth.
  20. Because of Hawaii’s isolation and tropical climate, it is very biodiverse, and there are many endemic plants and animals on the islands. Many of these species are engendered, and Hawaii has the highest number of endangered species in the US.

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The beautiful and unique landscape of coastal Oahu, Hawaii and the Kualoa Ranch where Jurassic Park was filmed as shot from an altitude of about 1000 feet over the Pacific Ocean.

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Hawaii Facts — Animals and Plants

  1.   Because of Hawaii’s remote, isolated location in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, 89 percent of the native (non-introduced) plants found here are endemic (native to nowhere else in the world)
  2. Each island in Hawaii has an official color and flower. The Hawaii state flower is the yellow hibiscus. 
  3. Because Hawaii is such a tropical paradise for plants, many of the non-native plants brought here have gone wild, and a number of them have become seriously invasive. A few introduced plant species were brought here by the ancient Polynesians in their canoes, while the rest, including many food plants, forage crops, forestry trees, exotic tropical flowers, former houseplants, and accidental weeds, were brought here more recently from many different places around the world.
  4. Because of its remote, isolated location in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, Hawaii has an unusually high proportion of endemic species. Endemic species are native to only one place in the world.
  5. Many Hawaiian endemic species are now endangered or even extinct due to the proliferation of harmful introduced species like rats and mosquitos.
  6. Hawaii’s Mauna Kea is the tallest mountain on Earth, with a height of over 30,000 feet from its base—on the floor of the Pacific Ocean—to its peak.
  7. The only terrestrial mammal native to Hawaii is the Hawaiian Hoary Bat. All other land mammal species here were introduced by humans. In contrast, all marine mammals found here in Hawaii are native.
  8. Hawaii has no native species of terrestrial reptiles or amphibians. All now found here were introduced. However, it does have native marine reptiles (sea turtles and sea snakes).
  9. They are no terrestrial snakes in Hawaii, and in the ocean, sea snakes are only rarely seen here.

Hawaii Facts — Demographics

  1. Hawaii’s population center is the most isolated population center on Earth—more than 2,300 miles from the United States, 3,850 miles from Japan, 4,900 miles from China, and 5,280 miles from the Philippines.
  2. Based on the most recent estimates, Hawaii is the 40th largest state in the union.
  3.  Hawaii is the only state to honor a monarch Since Hawaii is home to the only royal palace in the United States.
  4. Hawaii is the only US state with two official languages. English and Hawaiian.
  5. In total, the islands make up 10,931 square miles (28,311 square kilometers) in surface area, which makes its density 222.9 people per square mile. This ranks it 13th in the US in population density.
  6. The median age in Hawaii is approximately 38.5 years of age, and the state has a slight gender gap, with 49.8% females and 50.2% males residing in the state.
  7. In religious terms, Hawaii stands at 63% Christianity-based faiths, 10% non-Christian-based faiths, and 26% unaffiliated to any particular faith.
  8. According to the most recent ACS, the racial composition of Hawaii was: Asian: 37.79%, White: 24.95%, Two or more races: 23.89%, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander: 10.06%, Black or African American: 1.83%, Other race: 1.23%, and Native American: 0.26%
  9. In 1900, the total number of citizens living on the islands was declared at 154,001, and just ten years later, that had risen by 24.6% to 191,874.
  10. There are no majority races in the state — everyone is considered a minority because the population is so diverse.
  11. Hawaii has its own time zone — Hawaiian Standard Time — and does not follow Daylight Savings Time.

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Hawaii Facts— Culture and Sports

  1. Hawaiian culture is based around age-old legends and superstitions, ranging from traditional gods and goddesses like Maui (a demi-god who pulled up the island from the sea bed), Pele (a wicked and deceptive volcano goddess) and her sister Poliahu (a snow god).
  2. The original culture remains evident in the islands, but the Native Hawaiian aesthetic has become diminished and diluted over the years through death and intermarriage.
  3. Surfing was invented in Hawaii.
  4. Today, Hawaiian culture reflects a mixture of Eastern and Western influences. 
  5. The traditions of many ethnic groups have become mainstream in contemporary Hawaii, including the celebration of the Chinese New Year in late January or early February and the annual Japanese Bon festival in July or August.
  6. Native Hawaiian culture underwent a renaissance beginning in the 1970s, most notably with the resurgence of the hula, the voyaging canoe, the art of tattooing, and its music and language.
  7. The “Aloha Spirit,” however commercialized it has become, is reflective of the way many diverse groups live together on the small islands.
  8. In terms of sports, Hawaii is probably most associated with surfing, which has roots in ancient Polynesia but emerged as a modern sport in Hawaii in the early 20th century.
  9. No one looms larger in the early history of the sport than Hawaiian Duke Paoa Kahanamoku, who was also an Olympic champion swimmer once considered the greatest freestyle swimmer in the world.
  10. The islands have long been a surfers’ mecca, especially at the Banzai Pipeline, Waimea Bay, and Sunset Beach on Oahu’s North Shore.
  11. Baseball’s history in Hawaii dates from the 1850s, when Alexander Cartwright, one of the men responsible for the game’s invention, brought it with him when he relocated to the islands.
  12. In the 1920s, a semiprofessional league was founded in Hawaii, featuring teams representing many ethnic groups. The Honolulu-based Hawaiian Islanders (1961–88) was one of the most prominent franchises in the minor leagues. Since 1993 the Hawaiian Baseball League, which plays in the winter, has been a proving ground for professional players from the United States, Japan, Korea, and Asia.
  13. The Honolulu Marathon, first run in 1973, is one of the world’s largest.

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Hawaii Facts — Economy

  1. Hawaii ranks relatively low among US states regarding personal income, farm products sold, the value of manufacturing shipments, retail sales, and bank deposits.
  2. Agriculture is a major component of the local economy. Since the first Polynesian settlement on the islands, a tremendous variety of food and ornamental plant life from many parts of the world has been introduced.
  3. Hawaii still relies on imported oil for most of its energy, but the state has set out to increase its use of renewable energy sources.
  4. Tourism has helped Hawaii to become the center of the international market of the Pacific basin.
  5. State taxes are collected under a centralized tax system. The chief sources of the state’s revenue are a general excise tax, individual income taxes, and federal grants-in-aid.
  6. In 2020, Hawaii generated around $0.5 billion in agricultural cash receipts, with the highest valued commodities being miscellaneous crops, all other animals and products, and macadamia nuts. That same year, the value of Hawaii’s agricultural production and processing industries represented 1.1 percent of the total state GDP. 
  7. Some of the dollars generated by these industries end up being re-spent within the local economy, bringing additional value to the state through “multiplier effects.” Economic impact and contribution studies measure these effects, which can be broken down into direct, indirect, and induced economic effects.

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Famous People from Hawaii 

  • Former President Barack Obama graduated from Hawaii’s Punahou School, the first American president who was born there. 
Image: Hola
  • Bruno Mars is a musician born into a musical family in Waikiki. A former member of his family’s band, Bruno became known for his Elvis impersonations. 
Image: Forbes
  • Born and raised on Oahu’s North Shore, musician Jack Johnson still lives in the area with his wife and two children – and somehow finds time to contribute to the community.
Hawaii Facts
Image: Spotify
  • Bethany Hamilton is a professional surfer who lost her arm in a shark attack in 2003. She was born on Kauai, where she still lives. 
Image: nytimes.com
  • A wildly popular actress, Nicole Kidman was born in Honolulu, Hawaii to Australian parents who were in the United States on educational visas. 
Image: Celebs Tattoos
  • A Hawaiian model, Jason Momoa won the Hawaii Model of the Year Award in 1999 before achieving fame as Khal Drogo in the HBO hit, Game of Thrones. 
Image: Twitter

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Common Misconceptions About Hawaii State

Aloha means Hello 

This is probably one of the most common misconceptions. Aloha is a beautiful word that translates into “Joyfully sharing life” and also embodies the qualities of love, mercy, and compassion. Aloha is not just a greeting — it’s a way of life.

You need a passport to visit Hawaii

This is a surprising misconception, but one that persists for many people. You do not need a passport to visit Hawaii island. It is a state, not a separate country.

It doesn’t snow in Hawaii

Not true! While it’s an understandable misconception, Hawaii has an incredibly diverse landscape that includes tropical rainforest, desert, and snowy peaks!

Weird Laws in Hawaii

Read the Craziest Laws in the United States, if you want more.

  1. No Billboards
  2. Structures Can’t be Taller than Palm Trees on Kauai
  3. Residents Should Own a Boat
  4. You can’t have more than one alcoholic drink at a time
  5. Tattoos behind Ears Are Forbidden
  6. Twins Can’t Work Together
  7. Don’t Place Coins in Your Ears.
  8. It’s Illegal to Wear Swimsuits in Public
  9. Keeping More Than 15 Pets Is Prohibited

Final Thought

As you can see, Hawaii is a great state with lots of great things to do. Share the Aloha Spirit and you’ll see rainbows almost every day, including on your license plate and your driver’s license. Get the lifestyle of your dreams. You can enjoy Hawaii’s beauty, quality of education, low crime rate, and longevity. Just make sure not to wear swimsuits in public.

Hawaii Facts And Stats

CapitalHonolulu
Population2019 (1,416,000)
GovernorDavid Ige (Democratic Party)
Date Of AdmissionAugust 21, 1959
U.S. SenatorsMazie Hirono (D-HI)
Brian Schatz (D-HI)
US House of Representatives2 (of 435 Seats) 
State NicknameThe Aloha State, Paradise, The Islands of Aloha
State MottoThe life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness
State Song“Hawaiʻi Ponoʻī”
State FlowerYellow hibiscus
State FishReef triggerfish
State BirdNene
State TreeCandlenut
State MammalHawaiian monk seal
State DrinkBlue Hawaii Cocktail
State MineralBlack coral
State GemBlack Coral
State FossilNone
Neighbor StatesAlaska Oregon California Washington

Frequently Asked Questions About The Aloha State

What are the 5 interesting things about Hawaii?

  1. Maui’s Mount Haleakala is the world’s largest dormant volcano.
  2. Maui is home to a Frank Lloyd Wright design.
  3. Hawaii is the only U.S. state with two official languages.
  4. Hawaii is rabies-free.
  5. The banyan tree in the center of Lahaina is one of the largest in the world.

What is Hawaii known for?

  1. Volcanoes
  2. Ancient Culture
  3. Rich Cuisine
  4. World’s largest island chain
  5. Beautiful Beaches

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References

  1. https://www.britannica.com/place/Hawaii-state/Hawaii-after-statehood
  2. https://www.mauiaccommodations.com/blog/20-quirky-facts-about-hawaii/
  3. https://www.hawaiianairlines.com/trip-planning-guide/10-interesting-facts-about-hawaii
  4. https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/geography/states/article/hawaii-
  5. https://www.gohawaii.com/hawaiian-culture/history#:~:text=A%20Brief%20History%20of%20the,contact%20with%20the%20Hawaiian%20Islands.

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Sabrina E.
Sabrina is a former campaign manager who has decided to focus her effort to help people contact senators and get help. She leads our Editorial Team with Ronald and Lawrence to curate content and resources that help us navigate the system.

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