subject: Hawaii Island Fun Facts [print this page] Hawaii Island Fun Facts Hawaii Island Fun Facts
If you are planning to visit Hawaii in the near future or are just interested in it as a vacation destination, then you might want to read on and learn some fun facts about this fantastic group of islands.
1. Hawaii is referred to as the "Island of Flowers". Similar to countries such as Thailand, Uganda and Colombia, Hawaii has a very rich and diverse flora. There are a lot of exotic plant species including plumerian, ilima, hinto hib, silversword, and candlenut, which all contributes to the natural beauty of the islands together with its rich marine life and breathtaking white beaches. The state flower of Hawaii is the yellow hibiscus.
2. Surfing originated in Hawaii. It is a sport that was invented by chieftains and kings. Ancient natives in Hawaii called it hee nalu back in the 18th century. Today, surfing has become a popular sport particularly in countries including South Africa, Peru, Cape Verde, Barbados, South Africa, the United States and Australia.
3. In Hawaiian history, it was King Kamehameha I who unified the Hawaiian Islands in 1795.
4. Hawaii has numerous active volcanoes, making it one of the commonly studied geological places. Some of the other volcanoes found in Hawaii would be Kohala, Hualalai, Mauna Kea, Kilauea and Mauna Loa. Aside from volcanoes, one of the geological features unique to Hawaii would be the Halemaumau crater located on Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. It is said to be the home of the goddess of Hawaiian volcanoes, Pele.
5. The Hawaiian alphabet only has 12 letters which are used to form words. These letters would be: a, e, h, I, k, l, m, n , o, p , u, and w. Here are some of the more common words: "ae" meaning yes; "aole" meaning no; "keiki" meaning child; "moana" meaning ocean; "mahalo" meaning thank you; "hale" meaning house; "kaukau" meaning food; "kane" meaning man; "nani" meaning beautiful; and of course, "aloha" meaning friendship, welcome, love or goodbye.
6. Hawaii is the home to many famous personalities including: Yvonne Marianne Elliman, a singer and an actress; Hiram Bingham, an archaeologist; Tia Carrera, an actress; Brooke Mahealani Lee, Miss Universe 1997; Bette Midler, a singer and an actress; Keala OSullivan, a sportswoman; Israel Kamakawiwoole, a singer; Kristina Anapau, a model and an actress, Kelly Hu, a model and an actress and Andy Bumatai, an actor.
7. In the 19th century, Hawaii was called the Sandwich Islands. It became an official state in 1959.
8. Hawaii is a state with a tropical climate, which is a bit milder compared to the other tropical areas. Temperatures usually range from 60 to 80 degrees throughout the year. Although swimwear and light clothing are appropriate if you would be staying on the beach, it would be advisable to bring a jacket and some winter clothes if you are planning to do some hiking in the mountains.
