Hawaiian Islands Facts

Geography

• The state of Hawaii is composed of eight main islands: Oahu, the Big Island, Maui, Kauai, Molokai, Lanai, Nilhau, and Kahoolawe.

• The islands of Hawaii were formed by under-sea volcanoes that erupted thousands of years ago

• The Islands are actually the projecting tops of the world's largest mountain range

• Over 130 scattered points of land make up the Hawaiian Archipelago. From the Kure Atoll in the north to the Big Island of Hawaii in the south, it stretches 1,600 miles.

• Hawaii is the widest state in the United States measured from East to West

• Five navigable rivers run through the islands. They are: the Waialua, Waimea, Hanapepe, Lurnahai and the Hanalei. The Waialua River (Kauai) begins at Waialua Mountain, the wettest place on earth...which averages 488 inches of rainfall per year.

• Hawaii's winds blow east to west.

• Highest temperature recorded was 96' F (Honolulu Airport); lowest recorded temperature (under 3,000 feet) was 56' F. On average, temperatures over 92' F occur only twice per year, with temperatures under 60' F only once annually. Average daytime temperatures are 82' F (July) and 72' F (January).

• More than 100 of the world's most renowned beaches ring Honolulu.

People

• Hawaii's population is 1,257,608 (2003): 24.9% under age 18; 62.3% age 18-64; 13,3% over 65 years of age. Male 50.2%; Female 49.8%. 84.6% high school graduates. 26.2% have college degrees (2000).

• Everyone in Hawaii is a among a minority, as there are no racial or ethnic majorities: Caucasions (34%), Japanese-Americans (32%), Filipino-American (16%) and Chinese-Americans about 5%. Exact racial identification is hard to determine, as most of the population has some mixture of ethnicities.

• Housing: 512,881 housing units (2008); ownership rate 56.5%. 2.92 people per household (2000).

• Median household income $66,701 (2008); per capita income $21,525 (1999)

• The Hawaiian alphabet is composed of only 12 letters. Vowels: A, E, I, O, U. Consonants: H, K, L, M, N, P, W.

Government

• Hawaii was the 50th State, admitted to the union on August 20, 1959.

• Hawaii is made up of four counties: City & County of Honolulu; Kauai; Maui; and Hawaii.

• From the standpoint of borders, Honolulu is the largest city in the world. This, because the state constitution assigns any island (or islet) not belonging to a county to Honolulu. As such, all islands within the Hawaiian Archipelago are part of Honolulu. Many of these stretch some 1,500 miles to Midway Island.

Other

• Hawaii has its own time zone, called Hawaiian Standard Time. The time runs behind Pacific Standard Time (2 hours) and Eastern Standard Time (5 hours). Daylight savings time is not observed.

• Oahu attracts more visitors than any other Hawaiian Island. One-third of Hawaii's best surfing locations are found on Oahu. Iolani Palace is the only royal palace in the United States. Honolulu is the nation's 11th largest metropolitan area.

• The Big Island of Hawaii was first discovered by voyaging Polynesians. At 800,00 years of age, it is the youngest of the islands. This island is twice the size of all the others combined. It encompasses 4,038 square miles (63% of all Hawaiian Islands land). Parker Ranch, the largest contiguous U.S. ranch, is spread over 480,000 acres. The world's most active volcano, Kilauea, is situated on the Big Island, along with the state's highest mountain, Mauna Kea (13,796 feet).

• Maui's Haleakala Crater is the largest dormant volcano in the world.

• Kauai is the fourth largest of the Islands.

• The Island of Molokai is considered the "most Hawaiian" of the isles. It features Hawaii's longest waterfall and the world's highest seacliffs. Also, Molokai Ranch Wildlife Park sports rare African and Indian animals.

• The island of Lanai's Hulope Bay, a marine life preserve, is considered one of the world's best diving spots. Lanai is also considered to be Hawaii's most secluded island.

• Hawaii produces more than one-third of the world's commercial supply of pineapples. It is also the only state that grows coffee.