Welcome
to the Island Facts Page.
Many of Hawaii
Notary's clients are from the mainland. We often get questions from them about
the Islands so we've decided to list a few facts about each island. This site
is not intended to be a tourist site so the information given is brief and
simply a small glimpse into the state.
We encourage those that are interested to search other sites for more detailed information or perhaps - fly here and see for yourself what a beautiful and wonderous place this is.
THE STATE
• Hawaii is
larger than Connecticut, Rhode Island, & Delaware combined. It encompasses
6500 square miles.
• From east to west Hawaii is the widest state in
the United States, stretching over 400 miles.
• Population of the state of Hawaii is 1,224,398.
• Hawaii is the 50th state to
be admitted to the union on August 20, 1959.
| There are only 12 letters in the Hawaiian alphabet. | ||
| Vowels: | Consonants: | |
| A | – pronounced ah | H, K, L, M, N, P, W |
| E | – pronounced ay as in hay | |
| I | – pronounced e like in hee | |
| O | – pronounced o like in oh | |
| U | – u like in you | |
Hawaii has its own time zone – Hawaiian Standard Time. It is one of the few states that never changes to Daylight Savings Time. It is 2 hours behind Pacific Standard Time and 5 hours behind Eastern Standard Time in the winter. In summer allow 1 extra hour to allow for Daylight Savings Time.
HAWAII
Island
Color: Red Island
Flower: Lehua Blossom
Also known as The
Big Island, Hawaii is the largest in the island chain and is twice the size
of all the other islands combined. It is home to the worlds most active volcano
(Kilauea) and continuously pours red hot lava into the sea. It offers such
diverse terrains as snowy peaks from the top of Mauna Kea, white sandy shores
of the Kona coast, world renown black sand beaches, lush tropical rainforests
and even the Kau desert. Coffee and macadamia nuts have replaced much of the
sugar cane on the island. Naalehu is the most southern city in the United
States.
13, 796 ft Mauna Kea is the world’s tallest mountain if measured from it's true base from the ocean floor. Surpassing Mount Everest, the mountain's base rises 18,000 feet to sea level making Mauna Kea 31,796 feet. Atop Mauna Kea is a dozen world class telescopes including the world’s largest telescope. To accomodate the telescopes, all of the island's street lighting is yellow to keep the amount of light pollution down to a minimum.
| Points of Interest at a Glance | |
| • Akaka Falls | • Lyman Mission Museum |
| • Captain Cook Monument | • Painted Churches |
| • First Christian Church | • Parker Ranch |
| • Hawaii Volcanoes National Park | • Pu'uhonua O Honaunau (City of Refuge) |
| • Kamehameha Statue | • Puukohola Heiau |
| • Kamuela Musuem | • Rainbow Falls |
| • Lapakahi State Historical Park | • Waha'ula Heiau |
KAUAI
Island Color: Purple Island
Flower: Mokihana (Green Berry)
Kauai is the 4th largest island and is known as the ‘Garden Isle’.
Population is just over 58,000. It is known for its quiet, charming, rural
atmosphere. Its green valleys, white sandy beaches, majestic waterfalls and
world famous cliffs of the Na Pali coast has made it a favorite for Hollywood’s
movie makers. Waimea Canyon, Fern Grotto and Poipu Beach are located here.
Also on Kauai is the Hanapepe Ice Cream Man, Walt Lappert, the founder and
creator of Lappert's Ice Cream, famous for premium gourmet ice cream in lush
tropical flavors using fresh island ingredients.
| Points of Interest at a Glance | |
| • Captain Cook's Landing - Waimea | • Menehune Fish Pond - Niumalu |
| • Fern Grotto | • Old Russian Fort (Fort Elizabeth) |
| • Grove Farm Homestead | • Opaekaa Falls |
| • Kalalau Lookout | • Smith's Tropical Paradise |
| • Kamokila Hawaiian Village | • Waimea Canyon |
| • Kauai Museum | • Waioli Mission House |
LANAI
Island Color: Yellow Island
Flower: Kaunaoa (Yellow and Orange Air Plant)
Lanai is known as ‘The Pineapple Island’. Population – 2,426. Lanai is a total of 140 square miles. It is 13 miles wide and has 47 miles of coastline. Lanai is part of Maui County. Dole Pineapple used to grow and harvest much of it's pineapple from this beautiful island. It is the most secluded island with only two hotels and is also the island that Bill Gates rented for his wedding!
| Points of Interest at a Glance | |
| • Lanai City | • The Munro Trail |
| • The Experience at Koele (Golfing) | • Kanepu'u - Garden of the Gods |
| • The Challenge at Manele (Golfing) | • Luahiwa Petroglyphs |
| • Kaiolohia - Shipwreck Beach | |
MAUI
Island Color: Pink Island
Flower: Maui Cottage Rose
Maui is the 2nd largest island in the Hawaiian chain and has a population
of approximately 128,094. Maui is known as ‘The Valley Isle’.
It is home to the world’s largest dormant volcano – Haleakala
Crater at 10,023 ft. Maui is also home to the old whaling villages of Lahaina,
Hana and Kaanapali Beach.
| Points of Interest at a Glance | |
| • Banyan Tree - Largest in Hawaii | • Lahainaluna School |
| • Hale Hiokeike | • Maui Tropical Plantation |
| • Hale Paahao | • Maui Zoological and Botanical Gardens |
| • Haleakala National Park | • Ohe'o Stream - Seven Pools |
| • Kaahumanu Church | • Whaler's Village Museum |
| • Lahaina | |
MOLOKAI
Island Color: Green Island
Flower: White Kukui Blossom
Molokai is the 5th largest island with a population of approximately 7,000 residents. It is known as ‘The Friendly Isle’. Kalaaupapa was once a leper colony administered by Father Damien. Molokai is a part of Maui County.
| Points of Interest at a Glance | |
| • First Catholic Church (Except for Kalaupapa) | • Molokai Museum and Cultural Center |
| • Halawa Valley | • Moanui Sugar Mill |
| • Kapuaiwa Grove | • Pukuhiwa Battleground |
| • Maunaloa (Former Dole Plantation) | |
OAHU
Island Color: Yellow Island
Flower: Ilima
Oahu is the 3rd largest island and is known as ‘The Gathering Place’ and is the most populated with 876,156 residents. It is the 11th largest metropolitan area in the United Sates. Oahu is home to the state capital, Honolulu, as well as Diamond Head, Pearl Harbor, Waikiki Beach and the National Cemetery of the Pacific known as Punchbowl Cemetery.Oahu is often confused with the ‘Big Island’ – the island of Hawaii.
| Points of Interest at a Glance | |
| • Aloha Tower | • Kawaiahao Church |
| • Aquarium | • National Memorial Cemetery (Punchbowl) |
| • Bishop Museum and Planetarium | • Nuuanu Pali |
| • Byodo-In Temple | • Old Sugar Mill - Kaaawa |
| • Chinatown | • Pearl Harbor |
| • Diamond Head | • Queen Emma Summer Palace |
| • Foster Botanical Garden | • Royal Mausoleum |
| • Hanauma Bay | • Sacred Falls Park |
| • Hawaii Maritime Center | • Sea Life Park |
| • Iolani Palace | • Waimea Falls Park |
NI'IHAU
Island Color: White Island
Flower: Pupu Shell
Niihau is a privately owned island and closed off to the public. The population is approximately 230, all of whom are Native Hawaiians. Located off the Eastern coast of Kauai, it is only 69 square miles.
KAHO'OLAWE
Island Color: Grey Island
Flower: Hinahina (Beach Heliotrope)
This uninhabited island is known
as the 'Forbidden Isle'. It is 44.6 square miles and located off the coast
of Maui. Kaho'olawe was formerly used by the U.S. Navy and Air Force as a
bombing practice range. It is currently being restored and re-vegetated.
