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...Interesting facts about Hawaii.♥

STATE DATA...   Population (2000): 1.2 million (plus approx. 150,000 mil. & dependents); RANK: 41st Ethnic distribution: 33.5% white; 2.5% black; 7.5% hispanic; 56.5% asian & pacific islander. Geography (area): 6,423 sq. mi; RANK: 47th; Capital: Honolulu. Motto: Ua mau ke'eia o ka aina i kopono ("the life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness"). Flower: Yellow Hibiscus. Bird: Nene goose Tree: Kukui (candlenut). Song: Hawai'i Pono'i Entered union: Aug. 21, 1959; RANK: 50th

~Hawaii is America's only island state (and therefore has no borders), and only tropical state as well as being the southernmost of all states. "Ka Lae" (pronounced: 'Ka-lay'...english translation: "South Point") is the southernmost point of land in the U.S.

~Hawaii is more western than "The West" and more southern than "The South".

~The Hawaiian Islands are amongst the world's most isolated places on Earth. No other sizable chain of islands are further away from other lands.

~Hawaii has the world's most active volcano ("Kilauea"). As this webpage goes to net...Kilauea has been continuously erupting for over 20 years! Consequently...Hawaii is the only state (and one of a very few places on Earth) that is actually growing in land area.

~Hawaii (specifically the "Alakai swamp" at the summit of the island of Kauai) is the "wettest place on Earth" with the highest average annual rainfall in the world and the most rainy days per year.

~Hawaii has taller mountains than all but a handful of states. Mauna Kea ("White Mountain"--so named because of it's yearly snowcap) is 13,796 feet. NOTE: The highest elevation lake in the U.S. (and amongst the highest in the world) is located just below the summit of Mauna Kea ("Lake Waiau").

~Hawaii is the only state that's lowest recorded temperature is above 0 degrees (and that's at the top of Mauna Kea) and highest recorded temp. is not over 100 degrees. Hawaii has the highest low temp. & is tied with Alaska for the lowest high temp.

HISTORICAL OUTLINE OF HAWAII... It is believed that Hawaii was first settled by Polynesians from the Marquesas islands between A.D. 300-600. A later wave of settlers came from Tahiti and it is believed these newcomers conquered the older inhabitants. The first European visitors to the islands were Cap'n James Cook & crew in 1778 (Cook was killed by the Hawaiians in a later visit). Between 1790 & 1810, the islands were united under King Kamehameha I ("the Great" -died 1819). The first missionaries (from the U.S.) arrived in 1820 bringing western culture & religion (they codified the Hawaiian written language among other things). Kamehameha III (Kauikeaouli) & his chiefs created the first constitution, legislature, & public schools. Sugar production began in 1835 and became the dominant industry. In 1893, Queen Lili'uokalani was deposed. A republic was instituted a year later (President: Sanford P. Dole). Annexation by the U.S. came in 1898 & organization as a U.S. Territory in 1900. On Dec. 7, 1941 Hawaii was attacked by the Japanese Empire bringing the U.S. into WWII. Hawaii gained statehood in 1959--becoming the 50th State. Since statehood, Hawaii has experienced phenominal growth in both population & wealth.

~Hawaii has no snakes (in fact, Hawaii has NO native reptiles, amphibians, or land mammals [the only native mammals are the "Hawaiian Hoary Bat" & the "Hawaiian Monk Seal"], no predators, no rabies, no Poison Ivy or Poison Oak.

~Hawaii has the cleanest air & water in the Nation (and amongst the cleanest in the world)--not surpisingly then--The Islands also have the longest life-expectancy of any state (and amonst the longest in the world). You can drink straight from a stream w/o worry of getting sick--no need to sterilize or filter the water.

~The island of Oahu is the "Mecca" of surfing in all the world with the biggest rideable surf of any place on the planet. The World Championship is held here. Among the most famous of surfing beaches in the world are...Waimea Bay, the "Banzai Pipeline", Makaha, "Log Cabins" (the biggest wave ever ridden by a human being--a 70 foot face -- was at this beach).

~Hawaii is America's only state which was formerly an independent kingdom and has the only royal palace on American soil ("Iolani Palace")--located in the heart of downtown Honolulu.

~Hawaii is the only state with it's own language. And the language only has 12 letters (plus a 'glottal stop' which is considered like a letter)!

~Hawaii has elected the first Asian-American U.S. rep. & U.S. senator; and has also elected the first Japanese-American governor, the first Hawaiian-American governor, and the first Philipino-American governor.

~The County of Honolulu is actually the longest county in the U.S. as it comprises not only the entire island of Qahu, but also all of the small outer islands and shoals beyond Kauai and Niihau (except for Midway island which is a federal territory and is not part of the state--though it is part of the Hawaiian chain). Honolulu county is over 2,500 miles long--almost as far across as the entire contiguous United States!