From interesting tidbits of information about ancient Hawaiians to geographic wonders, the Hawaiian Islands are the subject of many incredible trivia facts. Some of these facts are common, while others are a bit more obscure, but regardless, everyone who lives in the Aloha State should have these 18 trivia facts about Hawaii in their arsenal. How else are you going to win that competitive round of bar trivia?
1. Hawaii consists of eight main islands and 124 uninhabited islands.
And the Big Island is actually twice the size of all the other islands combined.
2. The state gem isn’t actually a mineral — black coral is an animal, but is commonly used to make jewelry.
3. The Hawaiian Islands have lost more species, and have more endangered species, than any other state in America.
4. The Hawaiian alphabet is comprised of only 13 letters: A, E, I, O, U, H, K, L, M, N, P, and W.
5. Waikiki attracts approximately 44 percent of the state’s annual tourists.
6. Hawaii Island, more commonly referred to as the Big Island, gains approximately 36 acres of land every year, thanks to Kilauea Volcano.
7. One of the world’s largest volcanoes, Mauna Loa, was once used as a training ground for astronauts headed to the moon.
Recently, six NASA researchers spent several months on the volcano’s northern slope, simulating a Mars space station.
8. Hawaii has the highest life expectancy in the country, with the average resident living 81.3 years.
9. Hawaii is home to the lowest percentage of white Americans in the country.
Only 24.7 percent of Hawaii residents are Caucasian, and 38.6 percent are of Asian descent, the highest percentage in the country.
10. Spanning more than 1,500 miles and 10 degrees of latitude, the Hawaiian Islands are the world’s largest archipelago.
11. The famous Hawaiian macadamia nut isn’t actually native to Hawaii.
The plant was imported from Australia in the 1880s as ornamental vegetation, and wasn’t harvested as a crop until the 1920s.
12. The oldest Catholic Church in continuous use in the United States can be found in Honolulu; the Cathedral of Our Lady of Peace was built in 1843.
13. Mount Waialeale is one of the rainiest spots on earth, with an average of approximately 452 inches of rain each year since 1912.
It is also the second highest point on the island of Kauai.
14. From dry, coastal desert to snow-capped mountains, Hawaii Island is home to 11 of the world’s 13 climate zones.
15. Approximately two-thirds of the 10,000 humpback whales that migrate to the north Pacific from January to April make their way to Hawaii.
16. Hawaii does not have a single straight line in its state boundary.
How many of these facts did you know? Do you have any other interesting facts about Hawaii you would like to share with us in the comments below? To learn more about the Aloha State, click here to discover Everything You Need To Know About Hawaii From A To Z.
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