Hawaii is a wonderful state – full of beautiful landmarks and natural wonders, interesting Hawaii history, and even some intriguing individuals. You might not learn everything there is to know about our state in this list of interesting facts about Hawaii, but it’s a start; there are only 26 letters in the alphabet, after all. We love this round up of everything Hawaii A to Z!

Alphabet

The Hawaiian alphabet has only 13 letters – five vowels, and eight consonants. It’s a fascinating language worth learning more about!

Banzai Pipeline

The Banzai Pipeline, often simply referred to as Pipeline, is a surf reef break off Ehukai Beach Park in Pupukea on Oahu’s north shore. The pipeline is notorious for huge waves, which break in shallow water above a sharp and cavernous reef, forming large, hollow thick curls of water for surfers to ride. A variety of top surfing competitions are held here every year.

This incredible place has a lot of interesting Hawaii history.

Captain Cook

British Captain James Cook landed on Kauai at Waimea Bay in 1778, and named the islands the "Sandwich Islands" after the Earl of Sandwich. The British brought many new infectious diseases to the islands, and Captain Cook died during a fight the following year. It’s an unfortunate ending to Captain Cook’s travels.

Duke Kahanamoku

The man – and competitive swimmer with five Olympic medals – who was credited with popularizing the ancient Hawaiian sport of surfing. He was also a law enforcement officer, an actor, beach volleyball player and businessman. A bronze statue at Waikiki Beach honors his legacy.

Duke Kahanamoku is a fascinating part of Hawaii history.

Expectancy

As in life expectancy, for which Hawaii has the highest statistics in America. The average life expectancy in Hawaii is 75 for males, and 80 for females. Maybe this has to do with the fact that approximately 20 percent of Hawaii residents are overweight, compared with 30 percent on the mainland. But happiness meters are consistently high for all who live in Hawaii!

Father Damien

A Roman Catholic priest from Belgium, Father Damien received recognition for his ministry from 1873 to 1889 in the Kingdom of Hawaii for people suffering from leprosy who were required to live under a government-sanctioned quarantine in the Molokai town of Kalaupapa.

Kalaupapa is a part of Hawaiian history that should never be forgotten.

Garden of the Gods

Garden of the Gods is a gorgeous place, and one of our favorite Hawaii facts.

Hawaii

The name Hawaii came from the proto-polynesian hawaiki, meaning "place of the gods," or "homeland." A wonderful name for a wonderful place.

Israel Kamakawiwo’ole

Israel is a Hawaiian musician entertainer, and sovereignty activist who is best known for his medly, "Somwhere Over The Rainbow/What A Wonderful World." This music inspires many, and brought good cheer to all!

JFK Assasination Conspiracy Theory + Hawaii

Half of the Kennedy Administration’s cabinet was in Hawaii the day prior to JFK’s assassination. According to the Honolulu Civil Beat, "they stopped in Hawaii for high-level talks with Admiral Harry Felt, Commander in Chief Pacific, before flying on to Asia on a fact-finding mission. On the morning of the assassination, the plane left Hickam at 7:03 a.m., ahead of the scheduled 8:30 a.m. departure. First words of the shots fired in Dallas reached the plane at 8:37 a.m., but the Cabinet members were even further from the mainland… No one is quite sure about what this means, but there are several who believe that it is more than just a coincidence.

King Kamehameha I

Also known as King Kamehameha the Great, he was responsible for conquering most of the Hawaiian Islands and forming the Kingdom of Hawaii in 1810. Through his alliances with the major Pacific colonial powers, Kamehameha preserved Hawaiian independence under his rule. As was customary at the time, he took several wives and had numerous children, though he outlived half of them.

Read more about this interesting Hawaiian history

Luaus

The luau was first created in 1819, when King Kamehameha removed many religious laws that were practiced, including the rules that stated that men and women were to eat their meals separately. The King performed the symbolic act of eating with a woman, and ended all religious taboo. Now, the terms luau and party are almost exchangeable.

The modern luau has a fascinating Hawaii history.

Mauna Kea

Mauna Kea is one of Hawaii’s most notable volcanoes. If measured from the ocean floor, Mauna Kea is the highest peak in the world, measuring in at more than 33,500 feet – taller than Mount Everest! From sea level, however, the summit is at 13,796 feet. The mountain also houses the world’s largest telescope.

Hawaiian facts come to life on Mauna Kea!

National Register of Historic Places

Informally known as the Punchbowl Cemetery, the cemetery is on the National Register of Historic places, and serves as a memorial to honor those who have served in the United States Armed Forces, and those who have given their lives doing so.

Olo’upena Falls

Pearl Harbor

The December 7, 1941 Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor triggered the United State’s entry into World War II. You may not have known that Hawaii was put under martial law until the end of the war. Today, Pearl Harbor houses a variety of historical sites, and is home to more than 160 commands.

Hawaii history and Pearl Harbor go hand in hand.

Queen Liliuokalani

Queen Liliuokalani was the last reigning monarch and only queen regnant of the Kingdom of Hawaii. In January 1893, a group of Americans and Europeans who called themselves the "Committee of Safety" had planned a coup d’etat to overthrow the Hawaiian monarchy. Half a dozen policemen were sent by the Queen to Iolani Palace to arrest Committee members who tried to enter. A shooting broke out and one of the policemen was shot and had to be carried out by the remaining palace guards. Then, the Committee of Safety entered, and with almost no audience, they signed a document that ended the monarchy. Queen Liliuokalani didn’t find out about it until the next day.

Did you know this Hawaiian fact about Queen Liliuokalani?

Reef Triggerfish

The reef, rectangular or wedge-tail triggerfish – or humuhumunukunukuāpuaʻa in Hawaiian – was designated as the Hawaiian state fish in 1985. If you see one of these during your underwater expirations, take a moment to enjoy it!

Shangri La

Doris Duke’s Shangri La, built in 1937, is an Islamic-style mansion near Oahu’s Diamond Head. The mansion is now owned and operated by the Doris Duke Foundation for Islamic Art. Guided tours depart from the Honolulu Museum of Art. This stunning place is a wonderful place to explore on a rainy day.

Tantalus

Ukulele

The ukulele originated in the 19th century, and was a Hawaiian adaptation of the Portuguese machete, a small guitar-like instrument introduced to Hawaii by immigrants. It’s a wonderful instrument that livens up most parties!

Volcanoes

The Hawaiian Islands are composed entirely of volcanic rock.

The volcanoes that make up Hawaii began evolving more than 70 million years ago. The Big Island is comprised of five volcanoes, two of which have erupted in the last 200 years, and one of which is currently erupting. Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is one of the most impressive landscapes in the country, and a must visit for anyone traveling to Hawaii. Put this on the top of your to do list.

Wallaby Colony

A hundred years ago, two wallabies escaped from a private zoo on Oahu, and allegedly a small wallaby colony now inhabits the Kalihi Valley. Sightings are rare, and visitors are asked not to look for the wallabies on their own, as they are a delicate population. The Wallaby Colony is a rare sight to see!

Xeriscape Garden

The Halawa Xeriscape Garden, opened in 1989, displays a variety of xeric (dry) plants in a residential scale setting in order to demonstrate species capable of providing a visually appealing garden, while using less water than many currently popular plants. A gorgeous place to visit, especially if you love gardens!

Youngest State

Hawaii is America’s youngest state, entering the union on August 21, 1959. Newest to the country, and one of the best!

Zoo

Hawaii’s Big Island is home to one incredible zoo: the Pawena Rainforest Zoo. The only tropical zoo in the United States, this attraction is the perfect place for a day out of the water. Visitors can encounter various rainforest animals and endangered Hawaiian animals, including spider monkeys, lemurs, and more than 80 other animal species. It’s amazing and should be visited as soon as possible!

We hope you learned something today, and enjoyed our Hawaii A to Z roundup! Share your favorite fact about Hawaii, its history, or its people in the comments below.

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