Hawaiian Islands
Fun Facts About the Hawaiian Islands
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Cities and Counties
Facts about Hawai‘i
Nickname: The Aloha State
State Flag: The flag of the state is the flag designed prior to 1816 for King Kamehameha I. It has served as the flag of the Kingdom, Republic, Territory and State of Hawai‘i. It consists of eight horizontal stripes (representing the eight islands) that are alternately white, red, and blue, beginning with the top, with the British Union Jack in the upper left corner. The Union Jack might have been included out of consideration for Vancouver who gave the islands their first flag when King Kamehameha I placed the islands under the protection of Great Britain. The state constitution makes it the official state flag.
State Motto: "Ua mau ke ea o ka aina i ka pono"
This motto was given to the kingdom by King Kamehameha III at the time that sovereignty and the flag were restored by the British in 1843. It was made the official motto of the State of Hawai‘i by Joint Resolution 4, 30th Territorial Legislature, May 1, 1959. The official translation is "The life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness."
State Song: Hawai‘i Pono‘i (meaning Hawai‘i's own)
State Flower: Native Yellow Hibiscus (Pua aloalo)
State Gem: Black Coral
State Tree: Kuku‘i or candlenut tree
The kuku‘i or candlenut tree (Aleurites moluccana) was designed as the official state tree by Joint Resolution 3, 30th Territorial Legislature, May 1, 1959. The coconut palm or niu (Cocos nucifera) had been the official tree of the Territory of Hawai‘i, having been so designated by proclamation of Governor Lawrence Judd on March 17, 1930.
State Bird: Nene, or Hawaiian Goose (branta sandwicensis)
State Marine Mammal: Humpback Whale (megaptera novaeangliae)
State Fish: Humuhumunukunuku apua‘a (rhinecanthusrectangulus)
Admitted To The Union: August 21, 1959
Capital: Honolulu
Population: 1.3 million
Median Age: 38 years
Population Density: 189 persons per square mile
Number of Households: 420,000 (rounded)
Official Languages: English and Hawaiian
Geographic Area: 10,932 square miles
Land Area: 6,423 square miles
Water Area: 4,508 square miles
Lat/Long (Capital): 21'18"N, 157'50"W
Number of Islands: 137 islands, 8 main islands
Hawai‘i – The Big Island or the Orchid Isle
Maui – The Valley Isle
Kaho‘olawe – The Forbidden Isle
Lana‘i – The Pineapple Isle
Moloka‘i – The Friendly Isle
O‘ahu – The Gathering Place
Kaua‘i – The Garden Isle
Ni‘ihau – The Distant Isle
Highest Point: 13,796 feet (Mauna Kea)
Wettest Place: Waialeale, on Kaua‘i, is the wettest spot on earth, with an average of 397 inches of rain each year.
Terrain: eight volcanic islands with rugged peaks and wide coastal plains, Hawaiian Islands are known for their beaches.
Climate: tropical marine, moderated by northwestern trade winds; rainy season (November to April), dry season (May to October); little seasonal temperature variation
Common Flora: Breadfruit, pandanus, taro, banana, pineapple and sugar cane are common food plants. Banyan, Kuku‘i, sheoak, eucalyptus and coconut trees are some of the most commonly seen trees.
Common Fauna: Bats, imported rodents, lizards, domestic animals, and a great variety of birds make up most of the terrestrial vertebrates. Sea turtles, ocean and reef fish are commonly found in the waters around Hawai‘i.
Former Name: Sandwich Islands
Significant Historical Figures
Kamehameha the Great—Kamehameha the Great is perhaps the most beloved and illustrious of Hawaii‘s heroes.
Queen Lili‘uokalani—Queen Lili‘uokalani was the last reigning monarch of Hawaii, a woman of courage, compassion, and great creativity.
Father Damien—Father Damien's voluntary sojourn among the lepers of Molokai, ministering to their physical and spiritual needs, has shown him to be one of the great-hearted humanitarians of all time.
Our Economy
Tourism. The visitor industry is Hawaii's largest economic driver, accounting for approximately a quarter of the Gross State Product and one third of all jobs. Each island offers a unique experience for the more than 7 million visitors who come to enjoy Hawaii’s beauty and its culture each year.
Department of Defense. Military spending is the second major source of income for the state. The Department of Defense is one of the largest employers in Hawai‘i. Major military installations in the 2nd Congressional District include the Marine Corps Base Hawai‘i and Schofield Barracks on O‘ahu; and the Pacific Missile Range Facility on Kaua‘i.
State and local government. Hawai‘i has two levels of government: state and county. The state government has an executive branch, a two-chamber legislature, and a judicial branch. Four counties are headed by a mayor with legislative county councils.
For county information, click on the following links:
- City and County of Honolulu (includes 2nd Congressional District’s Leeward and Windward Oahu and the North Shore)
- Hawai‘i County (The Big Island)
- Kaua‘i County
- Maui County
- Or visit our Government Resources Page
Fun Facts About the Hawaiian Islands
1. The Hawaiian Islands are the largest oceanic islands in the world
2. Hawai‘i became the 50th U.S. state August 21, 1959.
3. Hawai‘i is the most isolated population center on the face of the earth. Hawai‘i is 2,390 miles from California; 3,850 miles from Japan; 4,900 miles from China; and 5,280 miles from the Philippines.
4. Hono means valley with a bay in front of it and -lulu means sheltered. Honolulu variously translates as "fair haven," "quiet harbor" or "sheltered harbor."
5. Hawai‘i is an ancestral name brought across the Pacific by the Polynesians. It seems to have been an original homeland and its meaning no longer is known.
6. Hawai‘i is the only state without Billboards
7. Snakes are illegal in Hawai‘i
8. There are no squirrels in Hawai‘i
9. Hawai‘i is the only state to have a Palace.
10. Hawai‘i is the only state which is still growing!
Click here for more trivia facts.
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