Hawaii trivia, trivia about Hawaii, Hawaii state trivia

Affordable Luxury Hawaii Travel: Hawaii Trivia

Did you know these interesting tidbits about Hawaii?

Hawaii State Flag

During the War of 1812, Kamehameha the Great was flying the British flag above his royal residence. Some American officers advised the king that it might be a good idea to show more neutrality, so he and his advisors collaborated on a new design for a flag of their own. The flag combines features from both the British and American flags, with 8 stripes representing the main islands of Hawai'i, and the design in the upper left-hand corner resembling the British Union Jack.

Hawaii State Motto

After his authority was briefly usurped by the British, King Kauikeaouli (Kamehameha III) made a speech at Kawaiaha'o Church on July 31, 1843. In the body of this speech he said the following phrase: "Ua mau ke ea o ka 'aina i ka pono" ("The life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness"). This statement has become the State Motto.

Hawaii State Anthem

Hawai'i Pono'i. This song was originally written by Henry Berger, leader of the Royal Hawaiian Band from 1872-1915, as a tribute to Kamehameha the Great and was called "The Hymn of King Kamehameha I." Later on, King Kalakaua wrote the lyrics to the song, which has become known as "Hawai'i Pono'i", meaning "Hawai'i's Own" (people). It was chosen as the official anthem in 1876.

Hawaii State Flower

yellow hibiscus. There are over 5000 species of hibiscus in the State, in every color of the rainbow. The official State Bloom is the vibrant yellow Hibiscus brackenridgei A. Gray., and--wouldn't you know-- it's practically an endangered species.

Hawaii State Bird

nene. Pronounced "neh neh", this relative of the Canadian goose came very close to extinction but was saved due to the efforts of a few people on the Mainland who in 1949 it got it put on the "protected" list. Today it is making a successful comeback. Its largest presence in the wild is probably on Maui, where it roams the slopes of Haleakala.

Hawaii State Mammal

kohola or humpback whale. The humpback whales migrate from Alaska to the warm waters of Hawai'i every winter to mate, give birth, play and sing. Whale-watching is best from December through May off the southern coast of Maui, but they can be observed during that period off any of the Islands.

Hawaii State Gem

black coral. Black coral grows at depths of 100 to 350 feet, which makes it quite a job for divers to harvest it. It is manufactured into many beautiful forms of jewelry, and is very popular among both residents and visitors.

Hawaii State Fish

humuhumunukunukuapua'a. This is still the unofficial State fish, because the Hawaiian State Legislature has never gotten around to making it official. One translation says that the name means (loosely) a fish put together in pieces like a jigsaw puzzle, with a face like a pig. Another rumored reason for the name is that when it is caught and brought out of the water it snorts like a pig. According to this version, the name, humuhumunukunukuapua'a literally means "Fish who comes out of the water and sounds like a pig". (One of its defensive characteristics is its ability to puff up somewhat, wedging itself between rocks or in coral recesses. When it is brought to the surface, this puffing is released, making the snorting noise.) The word "pua'a" in Hawaiian means "pig".

Hawaii State Tree

kukui. The "candlenut" or Aleurites molucanna has a smooth, straight trunk, unbranched to a height of forty feet or more; its leaves are light green and covered with silvery powder. At the end of the branches are clusters of small flowers (pua). The kukui fruit has two shapes. If the fruit bears one seed, it is round. If the fruit contains two seeds, it is elliptical. The immature fruit has a hard green covering about 1/4 inch thick; as the fruit matures, it turns a dark gray-black and becomes soft. The oil from these seeds was widely used for candles. Today the oil is used extensively in skin creams, where it soothes and heals irritated skin.

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