Which of These 27 Things Draw You Back to Hawaii?

This was in part inspired by the recent Facebook activity of people posting lists of places they have visited, with interesting facts, photos, and more. We decided to do something similar here.

We know that you guys are the ultimate Hawaii aficionados, so we are wondering too, how many of these facts did you already know? Okay, let’s get started.

Which of These Things Draw You Back to Hawaii?

1. Rainbows are in the sky and seen in our people. According to Pew Research, Hawaii is home to the nation’s largest share of multiracial Americans.

2. Not only is Hawaii a healthy place to live but it is also rated as having the best health care system in the country. It is a small and fragile system, but for a variety of reasons, the overall quality is very high.

3. Second largest of all the world’s volcanoes, Mauna Loa, is found on the Big Island, together with four others. Mauna Loa has erupted over 30 times in the past two centuries and represents a million years of growth starting from the ocean floor up.

4. Movies and TV shows filmed in Hawaii make it easy to experience the islands from afar. There have been well over 100 movies partially or entirely made here starting in 1913. Which are your favorites? Back in the 1980’s, Rob was a big fan of Magnum P.I. Most recently there is NCIS Hawaii and White Lotus.

5. Due to volcanic activity, the landmass is always changing. The Big Island is estimated to be adding nearly 50 acres per year.

6. This is the world’s most isolated island chain. Hawaii is about 2,500 miles from California and nearly 4,000 miles from Japan.

7. Coffee is grown here and nowhere else in the USA. Due to Hawaii’s sub-tropical climate, coffee farms are found on Oahu, Maui, Molokai, Kauai, and the Big Island. A personal favorite at BOH is the coffee grown near Ka`u on the Big Island. This region is south of Kona and is relatively new to the third-wave coffee scene. After Ka’u Sugar company closed, coffee-growing surged. Below, our photo of coffee sun-drying on Molokai.

8. Billboards don’t exist in Hawaii so the view can be uninterrupted. They have been illegal for a very long time. There are only three other states that ban billboards. They are Alaska, Maine, and Vermont.

9. Our unique time zone is Hawaiian Aleutian. That’s GMT -10 for those of you who think that way. Because there’s no Daylight Saving Time in Hawaii (a story itself), the time difference to the west coast is two hours in winter but is three hours in summer.

10. Hawaii has the southernmost latitude in the USA, which is beautiful South Point on the Big Island. If you look at the map, Hawaii’s latitude is in line with Mexico City.

11. Coral reefs, mostly found in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, comprise about 70% of reefs found in the USA. The reefs off Maui are the most extensive of the deep water (100-500′) type anywhere and are home to a very large variety of life.

12. Interstate highways that aren’t interstate? Another Hawaii distinction, the H1, H2 and H3 are found in Honolulu. These date back to Hawaii Statehood.

13. Captain James Cook named Hawaii The Sandwich Isles, in honor of his patron, the Earl of Sandwich.

14. The world’s tallest mountain is here if measured from its base on the ocean floor. That is Mauna Kea on the Big Island at over 33,000 feet.

15. Mt. Waialeale, on Kauai is the wettest place on earth. It averages 450 inches of rain annually. That’s in the center of Kauai rather than on our beaches.

16. The only navigable river found in Hawaii is the Wailua on Kauai and is pictured below. You can kayak on the river to Secret Falls or enjoy a ride to the Fern Grotto with Smith’s.

17. Hawaii state fish is the humuhumunukunukuapuaa, and that’s a mouthful. In 1985, the reef triggerfish was designated the official fish of Hawaii in 1985.

18. Lanai was once called the “Pineapple Island” and was home to the largest plantation that produced the majority of the world’s supply. Pineapple stopped being grown there in the past twenty years. That, among other changes including Lanai’s purchase by Larry Ellison, dramatically changed the island’s appearance and economy. Beat of Hawaii’s photo below sailing the backside of Lanai at three sisters.

19. Hawaii’s state flag contains the British “Union Jack,” symbolizing Hawaii’s relationship with Great Britain starting in the late 1700’s.

20. Longest beach in Hawaii is Polihale Beach on Kauai Island’s Westside. It is 15 miles of beautiful sand up to 300 yards wide. It’s found at the end of the highway and is accessed via a long and bumpy cane road. Pictured below.

21. No high-rises are found on Kauai. no By law, no building can be taller than a coconut tree. That is in sharp contrast to Honolulu, seen below.

22. Mt. Haleakala on Maui is the world’s largest extinct volcano. It is so large that the crater could contain all of New York City’s Manhattan.

23. Iolani Palace is the only royal residence in the USA and is located in Honolulu. It was built in 1882 and featured electricity four years before the White House.

24. Hawaiian Islands’ Archipelago is comprised of 132 islands and atolls that span over 1,500 miles.

25. Big Island is so-called inasmuch as it is by far the largest island in the state with an area of 4,028 miles. The photo below is at Mauna Lani Fishponds, also known as Kalahuipuaa.

26. Duke Kahanamoku, is considered the father of modern-day surfing. He was an Olympic swimming medalist who hailed from Honolulu. His iconic bronze statue adorns Waikiki Beach and the award-winning beach below is named for him.

27. Hula dance was created in Hawaii and all of the islands stake claim to its origin. It is a complex art form of Polynesian derivation and is accompanied by chant.

Updated 12/19/21.