Discover the Aloha Spirit: 13 Amazing Fun Facts About Hawaii for Kids and Curious Minds!

1. Shaka Santa's Sushi Surprise

Aloha Santa! Ditch those cookies and milk, because you're in for a tropical treat: In Hawaii, locals honor Shaka Santa by leaving sushi and passion orange juice instead, putting a deliciously island spin on a classic Christmas tradition.
Source => thistraveldream.com

2. Shark-less Shark's Cove

In a classic case of "you had one job", someone went and named a popular snorkeling spot Shark's Cove, despite the place being relatively shark-free: The cove on Oahu actually got its name from a reef's outline that resembles a shark from above, not because of any fearsome finned residents. While you might spot a few harmless white-tipped reef sharks outside the cove, it's the breathtaking underwater rock formations and vibrant marine life that truly make this spot worth a visit – just don't forget your reef shoes and an appreciation for misleading names!
Source => to-hawaii.com

Did you know Puerto Rico has its own "ghost" frog, the coquí guajón? Discover the mysterious creature that's now at the center of conservation efforts on the island! 🐸👻

=> Fun Facts about Puerto-Rico

3. Kings in Feathered Finery

You might've seen royalty sporting those fur-lined capes, but Hawaiian kings had some serious feather-flair back in the day: ʻAhu ʻula, or feathered cloaks and capes, were symbols of the highest rank in ancient Hawaii, made from woven netting and decorated with feathers from local birds like the ʻIʻiwi and ʻApapane, and several of these stunning pieces made their way to museums worldwide during Captain Cook's voyages.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

4. Kilauea's Fiery Party

When Kilauea Volcano decided to throw a fiery housewarming party, things got a little out of hand: The Pu'u 'O'o eruption, which began in 1983 and lasted until 2018, produced enough lava to cover 144 km2, create 177 hectares of new land, incinerate 215 structures, and turn 14.3 km of highway into a molten, 35-meter-thick speed bump!
Source => usgs.gov

5. The Mighty "Aloha"

Imagine if we all Hula-ed our way into important meetings, shouting "ALOHA!" like a Hawaiian superhero: Well, there's more to this mighty word than meets the ear. In Hawaii, "aloha" represents love, affection, peace, compassion, and mercy and serves as a force that binds existence, even inspiring a 1986 Aloha Spirit law that requires state officials to treat the public with aloha!
Source => en.wikipedia.org

6. Sugarcane Strikers

Imagine Hawaiians in the 1840s craving some sugar but getting salty instead: At the Old Sugar Mill of Kōloa on the Island of Kauai, native laborers staged the first general strike in the Hawaiian Islands, demanding their pay to rise from 12.5 cents to a sweet 25 cents a day. Their two-week strike was eventually crushed like sugarcane, but it fueled the spirit of future plantation protests in the 19th and 20th centuries. Today, visitors to Kōloa can pay their respects at the mill's remains and a monument dedicated to those who toiled in the sugar industry.
Source => nps.gov

7. Hawaii, the Happiest State

Who needs a mood ring when you've got Hawaii, the human barometer of cheer? From hula-swaying vibes to surf's-up sunsets, it's no wonder this tropical paradise has mirth in spades: Hawaii reigns as the happiest state in America for 2022, according to WalletHub, with a joy-tastic score of 66.31 out of 100 based on emotional and physical well-being, work environment, and those all-important leisure time and weather factors. Aloha to happiness, indeed!
Source => advisory.com

8. Hula-rama

Who needs Zumba when you've got Hula? Aloha, fitness enthusiasts, prepare to be schooled in some Hawaiian grooves: Hula is a traditional Hawaiian dance form that weaves tales of the people and the land, connecting generations to the spirit of aloha, and paying homage to their deities in a hip-shaking, storytelling ritual that outshines your average workout class.
Source => hawaiiluaucompany.com

9. Nēnē Comeback Story

What do you get when you cross a lucky goose with a tropical paradise? A nēnē comeback story, of course! Hawai‘i's state bird, the nēnē – or Hawaiian goose – went from nearly extinct with just 30 individuals left in the wild to over 2,800 today: Conservation superheroes banded together and employed a mix of captive breeding, habitat restoration, and active management strategies, resulting in stable or increasing populations across Hawai‘i's islands and even a proposed downlisting from endangered to threatened status. Aloha, nēnē revival!
Source => fws.gov

10. Humpbacks' Hawaiian Haven

Whale, whale, whale, what do we have here? Hawaii seems to be the ultimate love shack for some of the ocean's largest guests: Humpback Whales migrate all the way from Alaska to Hawaii each winter to mate, give birth, and care for their little ones in the warm Hawaiian waters. Up to 10,000 humpbacks visit Hawaii annually, and Maui County is their top vacation spot. Get ready to see some serious underwater romance between January and February, but don't hold your breath – the record time a humpback can stay underwater is 59 minutes!
Source => skylinehawaii.com

11. Haleakalā's Cloud Playground

Imagine being surrounded by a magical wall of cloud fluff that plays hide and seek with an out-of-this-world landscape - talk about feeling on top of the world: Plan a visit to Hawaii's Haleakalā National Park, where the early mornings offer an unforgettable sunrise, unveiling a unique alien-looking terrain, perfect for stargazing and cementing your status as a certified cosmic explorer!
Source => nationalgeographic.com

12. Kamehameha's Floral Fiesta

Surfs up, flowers in tow: On June 10, 2023, Honolulu will blossom with the 106th King Kamehameha Celebration Floral Parade that snakes from King and Richards Street to Monsarrat Avenue and Queen Kapiolani Park, complete with hula, live entertainment, and Hawaii's finest food booths awaiting at Kapiolani Park from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., all for the low, low price of absolutely free!
Source => gohawaii.com

13. Island-hopping Airways

Why, Hawaii is more well-connected than a coconut-phone network! Feeling the island-hopping itch in your flip-flops is easy-peasy: With airlines like Hawaiian Airlines and Mokulele, you can fly between the different islands in no time, and even plan an island-hopping vacation with flights taking as little as 20 minutes.
Source => gohawaii.com