Hawaii is a fascinating place. Not only one of the most breathtakingly beautiful places in the world – but an interesting one too. Some of these Hawaii facts you may already know, but some may surprise you! So come along as we learn all about this amazing place called Hawaii…

Interesting Facts About Hawaii

The Basics:

• State Nickname: The Aloha State and The 808 State
• Hawaii is the 50th state in the union, joining on August 21, 1959.
• State Flower: The yellow hibiscus
• State Bird: Nene
• State Tree: Kukui nut
• State Fish: Humuhumunukunukuāpuaʻa, also known as the reef triggerfish – however no one calls it that. Fun fact: a favorite pastime of school-age children is to practice saying “Humuhumunukunukuāpuaʻa” as fast as they can. Can you?
• State Mammal: Monk Seal
• State Capital: Honolulu
• Number of Islands: 8. They are: Oahu, Hawaii, Kauai, Maui, Lanai, Molokai, Niihau and Kahoolawe
• Hawaiian Islands ranked by size (from largest to smallest) and their nicknames:

1. Hawaii: The Big Island
2. Maui: The Valley Isle
3. Oahu: The Gathering Place
4. Kauai: The Garden Isle
5. Molokai: The Friendly Isle
6. Lanai: The Pineapple Isle
7. Niihau: The Forbidden Isle
8. Kahoolawe: The Target Isle

Do you know these Hawaii facts?

• Hawaii is one of the most isolated, inhabited places in the world.
• Hawaii is the only state that has two official languages – English and Hawaiian.
• The area code is 808
• Hawaii Island is also know as “The Big Island” because…you guessed it…it’s the biggest of the Hawaiian Islands.
• Hawaii Island has the world’s largest active volcano – Mauna Loa, as well as the world’s most active volcano – Kilaeua.
• Many visitors confuse Oahu and Hawaii Island. Oahu is the most populous island, and the hub of commerce and government in Hawaii, but Hawaii Island is the largest island. Oahu, on the other hand, is the third largest of the Hawaiian islands.
• There are only twelve letters in the Hawaiian alphabet.
• It is illegal to touch, corner or harass the Hawaiian monk seal and the honu, the Hawaiian green sea turtle, in addition to other endangered species.
• Additionally, it is also illegal to own or bring a snake into Hawaii.
• There are four counties in the state of Hawaii. Oahu, Maui, Kauai and Hawaii. Therefore, you can be in the state of Hawaii, in the county Hawaii and on the island of Hawaii all at the same time!
• Hawaii is the rainbow capital of the world.
• Hawaii does not observe daylight saving time. Therefore, the time difference between other states changes throughout the year.

Hawaii Facts Deep Dive

• Spam is consumed more in Hawaii than any other state, so much so that they even have an annual Spam festival, known as the Waikiki Spam Jam.
• The only royal palace on U.S. soil is Iolani Palace, located in Honolulu.
• Billboards are prohibited in Hawaii.
• Public schools on Oahu utilize the public transit system, known as TheBus, in lieu of traditional school buses.
• The island of Niihau is privately owned.
• Shangri La is the only museum in the U.S. dedicated to Islamic Art.
• Parker Ranch, on Hawaii Island, is one of the largest cattle ranches in the United States.
• The southernmost point in the US is located on the Big Island. Many confuse it with Key West, which is the southernmost point in the continental US.
• Hawaii fact or Hawaii superstition? Local lore says bringing home lava rocks from Hawaii is bad luck. Either way – it’s illegal.
• Hawaiian Pidgin, actually an English-based creole language, is spoken throughout the Islands.

Main Cities on Each Island

Oahu

• Honolulu: Cultural, financial and tourism hub. Waikiki is located here, as well as Diamond Head and Pearl Harbor.
• Other cities include Pearl City, Haleiwa and Kaneohe.

Maui

• Kahului: Main airport located here. Business center.
• Other cities include Kihei, Kapalua, Paia and Makawao.

Kauai

• Lihue
• Hanalei

The Big Island

• Kailua-Kona: Popular visitor destination. Main airport located here. Drier and sunnier weather make this the best choice for resorts. 
• Hilo Town: Closer to Volcanoes National Park and Akaka Falls. Old Hawaii vibe. Smaller airport here as well.

We hope you’ve enjoyed learning these fun facts about Hawaii! Our All-Inclusive Hawaii Vacations make visiting paradise a breeze, so contact us today to make your dream a reality!