20 Things You May Not Have Known About Hawaii
Hawaii, paradise, the Aloha State, it goes on and on. We have this image of Hawaii, but how much do you really know about the 50th state of the Union? With Hawaii recently celebrating its 54th anniversary of admittance, here are 20 things you may not have known about the state of Hawaii.
1. Perhaps the biggest symbol of Hawaii is the lei. Usually you are presented a lei as you arrive and it’s worn at most celebrations. However, despite its beauty and grandeur, the lei has traditionally strict rules. For example, it is considered bad luck to present a tied lei to a woman that is pregnant. It’s also considered rude to wear a lei that you intend to give to someone else, remove the lei in front of the presenter and to refuse a lei altogether.
2. Located on the Big Island is the world’s biggest volcano, Mauna Loa. NASA is known to train astronauts for the moon by walking on the volcano’s hardened lava. Speaking of volcanoes, the Big Island is increasing in size due to the Kilauea Volcano. With it erupting for over 30 years, the island grows about 42 acres per year.
3. Hawaii has the highest life expectancy in the U.S., as the average age is 81.3 years. Perhaps it’s the paradise like conditions or the state’s healthcare system that focuses on preventive healthcare and that more than 90% statewide are insured. For over 37 years, businesses have been required by law to insure all employees that work 20 hours a week or more.
4. The Hawaiian language is a completely different language than what you will find on the Mainland. For example, if there’s a line over a vowel (kahakō symbol) then that vowel is stretched out. A, E, I, O, U becomes ah, eh, ee, oh, oo. The symbol that can be found in certain words that appear to look like an apostrophe (ʻokina symbol) signifies a quick pause. In the event that two words are spelled exactly the same, but one includes a ʻokina, then it is considered two different words. For example, “mo’a” means cooked, whereas “moa” means chicken.
5. Have you ever seen Hawaiian words before, such as the city or street names? They’re pretty different. The Hawaiian alphabet only has 13 letters, unlike the 26-letter alphabet that is on the Mainland. In addition, each word, as well as each syllable, ends with one of the five vowels.
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6. Unless you are at the zoo, you won’t find snakes in Hawaii as they are outlawed.
7. One of the more popular professions in Hawaii? Photographer. Wedding photographers especially as many tourists travel to the islands to tie the knot. Maui and Oahu are two of the more popular wedding destinations.
8. Look as much as you want, but you will not find seagulls in Hawaii. Hawaii does have the White Tern, a seabird that lays eggs on tree branches. Unlike most birds, the White Tern does not build a nest for their eggs.
9. While the Mainlanders prefer mesquite or hickory smoked barbecue, Hawaiians prefer to have their meats smoked with guava woods.
10. When it comes to the commercial supply of pineapples, Hawaii supplies over one-third worldwide.
11. Hawaii, per capita, consumes the most Spam in America.
12. Hawaii is the only state in America that grows coffee.
13. Hawaii, along with Alaska, Vermont and Maine, are the only four states in the U.S. that has banned the use of billboard signing.
14. Traditionally, residents of Hawaii will hold a luau to celebrate the first birthday of their child.
15. Only the people born into Hawaiian ancestry are considered to be actual Hawaiians. Meanwhile, those born and raised in Hawaii, that doesn’t have Hawaiian ancestry, are considered as locals and not native Hawaiian.
16. There are eight islands that make up the state of Hawaii. The largest is the Big Island, otherwise known as Hawai’i. The smallest island is Kaho’olawe.
17. Of the entire planet, the state of Hawaii is the most isolated of populated living.
18. According to the 2010 United States Census, Hawaii is home to the largest percentage of Asian Americans at 38.6%, followed by multiracial Americans, 23.6%. The lowest is White Americans at 24.7%.
19. Hawaii is the owner of its own time zone and is the only state, other than Arizona, that does not observe Daylight Savings Time.
20. Haleakala in Maui is the largest dormant volcano in the world.