Hawai`i Facts 2

Hawaii is the only U.S. state that grows coffee.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

Kailua-Kona on the Big Island is the perfect place to grow coffee for several reasons. The volcanic soil, gently sloping hills, light rainfall, and modest sunshine of Kona create the ideal conditions for growing coffee, and has birthed its own variety of coffee: Kona coffee, one of the most expensive in the world.

Mauna Kea is the tallest peak in the world.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

While Mt. Everest is generally known to be the tallest peak in the world due to its elevation (8,848 meters tall), that measurement is taken from sea level to the very top of the mountain.

When measured from sea level to peak, Mauna Kea stands at a measly 4,207 meters tall, not even half of Everest.

Mauna Kea, however, is partially submerged: the base of the mountain is actually below sea level at the sea floor. Thus, when measured from base to peak, Mauna Kea measures 10,210 meters, making it the tallest mountain in the world.

‘Iolani Palace is the only official royal residence in the U.S.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

The United States of America is proud of its separation from the British monarchy in 1776, which is probably why there aren’t any palaces or royal buildings built anywhere on American soil.

That is, until the U.S. annexed Hawaii, which has a long and proud history of ruling monarchs.

‘Iolani Palace had electricity years before the White House.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

The current ‘Iolani Palace was completed by King David Kalakaua in 1882 and featured electric lights, indoor plumbing, and a telephone.

For the record, the White House didn’t have electrical wiring installed until 1891, and even then the president and his wife were too afraid to use them.

Mount Waialeale is the highest peak on Kauai.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

Kawaikini is the highest peak on Kauai.

Mount Waialeale is famous for being the _______ place in the world.

• driest

• happiest

• wettest

• brownest

Answer explanation

Mt. Waialeale is much more famous as being the wettest place in the world. Getting an average yearly rainfall of over 450 inches, the mountain, named “rippling water” creates giant waterfalls and large bogs where rare plant species thrive.

The islands of Molokai and Lanai have no stop lights and only few stop signs.

• True

• False

Kilauea is the most active volcano in the world.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

Kilauea is the newest volcano in the Hawaiian Island chain, which was created as the Pacific tectonic plate shifted northwest over a volcanic hotspot.

Kilauea currently emits the most lava of all the active volcanoes in the world. Eruptions have been continuous since 1983.

Where was the original home of the macadamia nut?

• Hawaii

• Australia

• South Africa

• United States

Answer explanation

The original plant is indigenous to Australia and was named after the famous Australian figure John Macadam.

The tree was only introduced to Hawaii in 1882 as a windbreak for sugarcane fields, not being commercially produced until decades later.

Hawaii is the only U.S. state where the sun passes directly overhead.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

Hawaii, is the closest state of the U.S. to the equator, meaning at specific times in the year, the sun is directly overhead.

This is most noticeable when looking at shadows: an object like a telephone pole that stands straight up will seem to not have a shadow at all. This phenomenon is known locally as a “Lahaina noon,” where the sun passes directly overhead, and occurs once in May and again in July.