People typically think of Oahu, Maui, Kauai, Lanai, Molokai, Niihau, Kahoolawe, and Hawaii when they hear the word “Hawaii.” The northwestern Hawaiian islands, a series of islets, seamounts, and shoals stretching 1,350 miles northwest of the “main” islands, are included in the state. The Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument, a World Heritage Site and the United States’ biggest contiguous fully protected conservation area, is home to an astonishing diversity of seabirds and marine life. Papahanaumokuakea is the largest island in the Pacific, covering 582,578 square miles. It is larger than all of America’s national parks combined.

Captain Cook

Captain James Cook was slain in a confrontation with Hawaiians at Kealakekua Bay on Hawaii island on February 14, 1779. (he is the British sea captain who is credited with discovering the Hawaiian Islands a year earlier). Hawaiian Princess Miriam Likelike deeded a 5,682-square-foot tract near the site of Cook’s death to England for $1 in 1877, with the condition that it be used “to conserve and maintain…a monument in remembrance of Captain Cook.” You’ll be on British land if you go up to the 27-foot white obelisk.

First language on Hawaii was passed trough songs

Hawaii’s official languages are English and Hawaiian. Hawaii had no written language prior to the advent of Christian missionaries in 1820; births, funerals, genealogy, battles, legends of mighty chiefs, descriptions of nature’s beauty, and more were all handed down orally through songs, chants, and poetry. The Hawaiian written language was invented by missionaries, and it consists of only 12 letters: five vowels and seven consonants (h, k, l, m, n, p and w). It also has a ‘okina sign, which is written as a grave accent (‘) or a single quotation mark on the left (‘). It is a glottal stop that is considered a consonant and means “separation.”

Hawaii has the most isolated population

Hawaii is the world’s most remote populated center, located nearly 2,400 miles from the nearest continent, the United States mainland. It has its own time zone, Hawaii Standard Time, and does not follow daylight saving time as a result. Hawaii is three hours behind the Pacific Time Zone (i.e., the West Coast of the United States) starting on the second Sunday in March, and two hours behind starting on the first Sunday in November.

Lots of celebrities came from Hawaii

Former President Barack Obama, AOL co-founder Steve Case, dancer/choreographer Carrie Ann Inaba, singer/actress Aulii Cravalho, vocalists Bruno Mars, Bette Midler, and Nicole Scherzinger; actors Jason Momoa, Don Stroud, and Timothy Olyphant; actresses Nicole Kidman, Maggie Q, Kelly Preston, Tia Carrerre, Kelly Hu, Janel Parrish, and Lauren Graham; and sports stars Michelle Wie,