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FACTS & TRIVIA

* Hawaii is the only State that grows coffee. Coffee plantations in Hawaii make up 6,200 acres. In 2003, 8.5 million pounds of coffee were produced.


* From east to west Hawaii is the widest state in the United State.

* The Hawaiian Islands are the projecting tops of the mountain range in the world.

* Honolulu's Zenith Star (the star that rises directly above) is Arcturus. The Hawaiians called it, Hokule'a.

* Remember that Joke with the Hawaiian & Samoan bradah's sitting at the beach checking out the surf, & feeling the strong offshore breeze agaginst their faces? The Haw'n guy say's, "Ooooh brah, Kona Winds!! Samoan guy answers, "Oh I know Pradah, I fink is kona rain too. (eh, did I just hear a rock hit my house?.) We all know that the winds in Hawaii blow east to west. The highest recorded temperature is 96' F (Honolulu Airport), but temperatures over 92' F generally occur only once or twice a year. The lowest temperature (under 3000 feet altitude) is 56' F. Temperatures under 60' F may occur but rarely more than once a year. Average daytime temp. (July) is 82' F. Average daytime temperature in January is 72' F.

* There are no racial or ethnic majorities in Hawaii. Everyone is a minority. Caucasians (Haoles) constitute about 34%; Japanese-American about 32%; Filipino-American about 16% and Chinese-American about 5%. It is very difficult to determine racial identification as most of the population has some mixture of ethnicities.

* Honolulu is the largest city in the world -- at least it has the longest borders. According to the state constitution any island (or islet) not named as belonging to a county belongs to Honolulu. This makes all islands within the Hawaiian Archipelago, that stretch to Midway Island (1,500 miles northwest of Hawaii) part of Honolulu. Honolulu is about 1,500 miles long or more distance than halfway across the 48 contiguous states.
* Honolulu is the nation's 11th largest metropolitan area.

* Iolani Palace is the only royal palace in the United States.

* The world's largest wind generator is on the island of Oahu. The windmill has two blades 400 feet long on the top of a tower twenty stories high.

* The island of Oahu draws more visitors than any other to Hawaii. One-third of the state's best surfing beaches are on Oahu.

* Molokai's east end is a tropical rain forest and part of the island receives 240 inches of rainfall a year.

* At 800,000 years the Big Island is the youngest of the island chain. However, it was the first island discovered by voyaging Polynesians.

* Hawaii is the most isolated population center on the face of the earth. Hawaii is 2,390 miles from California; 3,850 miles from Japan; 4,900 miles from China; and 5,280 miles from the Philippines.
 
* More birds have become extinct in Hawaii than in any other part of the world. A total of 26 species died out and 27 more are endangered by changes in their natural habitats, forest destruction, mongooses and man.

* Hawaii has the highest number of married couples living with others, mainly because Hawaii has the lowest percentage of home ownership. 

* Hawaii has the highest life expectancy in the United States. Life expectancy for males is 75, for females 80 years. 

* Hawaii has the fewest overweight people in the United States. About 19.7 percent of Hawaii residents are overweight, compared to about 30 percent on the mainland.

* Electric lights illuminated Iolani Palace four years before the White house had them.

* By law, no building on Kauai is allowed to be built taller than a palm tree.

* The tallest coconut tree stands in Hilo and measures 92 feet and 5 inches (28.17 m).

*  On Moloka'i the first Hawaiian fossils were discovered in sandstone at the Moomomi Dunes.

* In ancient times, it was assumed that evil spirits rule the island of Lanai. Kaululaau, a young man and son of a Maui chief was sent to Lanai to investigate the island and deem it free of evil spirits to make it suitable for settling. 

* Hawaii is the only state that grows cacao beans to produce chocolate.

* Oranges were introduced to Hawaii in 1792.

* Until the early 1800s in Hawaii, most banana varieties were 'kapu' - forbidden for women of Hawaii to eat, under penalty of death.


Who created Hawaii Five-O?
Leonard Freeman, who died January 20, 1974 from complications of heart surgery.

Who composed the main title theme?
Morton Stevens, who died November 11, 1991 of cancer. He composed music for other TV shows like Police Woman, Gunsmoke and The Wild, Wild West, arranged music for the Boston Pops, and was musical director for concert tours of Sammy Davis Jr., Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra and Liza Minnelli. 


How tall was Jack Lord?
Despite a rumour that he was quite short, Lord was actually 6 feet, 2 inches tall. 

The Origins of Shaka
There is some debate about the origin of the shaka, although most agree that its roots lie with "surf and beach culture." One version claims that the shaka sign was first used in the 1940s as a symbol of blessing by a local Hawaiian folk hero named Hamana Kalili from Laie who happened to be missing the three middle fingers on his right hand due to a sugar mill incident.
Others debate the symbol was born when Kalili waved his malformed hand to shoo away children from jumping trains. A third version claims that the symbol was born when one of the first surfers in Hawaii raised a shaking pinky and thumb out of the water after having his middle fingers bitten off by a hungry shark. Yet another version says that the origin lies with Spanish immigrants, who folded the middle fingers and brought the thumb to the lips as a friendly gesture to symbolize sharing a drink with the natives they encountered in Hawaii.
The naming of the symbol as “shaka” came later in the 1960s when used as a signoff by local Honolulu TV movie host Lippy Espinda.

The Hawaiian Flag History
Relationships with Britain – and Britain’s status as a protectorate – were very important to King Kamehameha I. In 1793, a portion of the islands were ceded to the UK in communication with representative Captain Vancouver, a deal that was never really acted upon by the British. Some say today’s Hawaiian flag was created after controversy surrounding the waving of both the Union Flag and American Flag. Each side opposed the flying of the other’s flag, so a compromise was reached. The Hawaiian flag is notoriously seen as a melding of the U.S. and British flags. When the new Kingdom of Hawaii flag was introduced, it was not long before the UK, France, the U.S. and Japan granted their official recognition of the icon. 

Haunted Hawaii
   Nearly everyone, who lives on the Hawaiian Islands, will tell you about one or more strange experiences they had; those together with the stories they heard from family and friends can fill volumes.
   Hawaiians believed that during sleep our souls, called uhane, can leave our body and wander around and travel to find advice or adventure. It returns when we wake up again. When Hawaiians die, their soul is said to go to specific places, for example to Kaena Point on Oahu and Waipio Valley on the Big Island, which are portals to the next world.

Kamehameha's Bones
The location of the bones was kept secret by whomever the duty was entrusted to, usually the decedent’s closest advisor. In the case of Kamehameha’s death, Chief Ulumaheihei (called Hoapili by the King) was given this honor. The bones of Kamehameha were extremely sacrosanct and must be kept hidden to ensure his spirit’s transition into the world of the aumakua. Although it is yet to be proven, many believe that Kamehameha’s remains rest in a burial cave at Kaloko, a pond in Kehaha on the island of Hawaii. Other famous rulers, including Kahekili, a famous Maui ruler, are also at peace here. Some say that King Kalakaua ordered Kamehameha’s bones to be relocated to the Royal Mausoleum in Nuuanu Valley, although this is strictly hearsay as well. 






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