Fun Facts About Hawaii

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Hawaii is called the "Island of Flowers".Like Colombia, Uganda and Thailand, Hawaii is very rich in flora, with a great diversity of native and exotic species.There are many orchids and other rare plants such as hint´o hib, plumerian, ilima,silversword, and candlenut. Certainly, Hawaii has the world record for gardens.The state flower is the yellow hibiscus.The state flower is a symbol for each state in the United States.

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The Pearl of the Pacific or Hawaii is one of the most beautiful places in the world. It is famous for its rich marine life and pristine white beaches.

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Hawaii is the birthplace of surfing. It was a sport invented in Hawaii by kings and chieftains.Hawaiian islanders called their sport he´e nalu in the 18th century. Currently, surfing is a popular sport in countries such as South Africa, Cape Verde, Barbados, Peru, South Africa, Australia, and the United States.Unlike some sports, surfing isn´t an olympic sport yet.

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King Kamehameha I was a great man in Hawaiian history.He unified the islands in 1795.

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Like Egypt (Hatshepsut and Cleopatra), Madagascar (Ranavalona I and Ranavalona III) and Ethiopia (Uizero Taitu and Judik Melenik), Hawaii had two queens. In 1823, Kaahumanu became queen of Hawaii. The second queen was Liliuokalani. She came to power in 1891.She was an ardent nationalist. However, her government was defeated in 1893.

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The Hawaiian alphabet has only 12 letters: a, e, h, I, k, l, m, n , o, p , u, and w. For example: ae (yes), ala (path), aole (no), hale (house), hana (work), haole( foreigner), hele mai (come here), hoomalimali (flattery), huhu (angry), hula (dance), kai (the sea), kane (man), kapu (forbidden), kaukau (food), keiki (child), ko (sugar), mahalo(thanks), mahimahi (a delicious fish), maikai (handsome),manu (bird), mauna (mountain), moana (ocean), nani (beautiful), oe (you), and nui (large), and aloha (welcome, friendship, good-bye and love).

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The aloha skirt, a sport shirt with exotic designs, became fashionable in the world in the 1980s.The Hawaiian shirts were worn by superstars such as Richard Gere, Bob Barker, Timothy Hutton, Jack Nicholson, and Paul Newman.

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Hawaii has many famous people: Yvonne Marianne Elliman (singer and actress), Tia Carrera (actress), Hiram Bingham (archaeologist), Bette Midler (singer and actress), Nicole Kidman (actress), Betty Jones (dancer), Keala O´Sullivan (sportswoman), Brooke Mahealani Lee (Miss USA and Miss Universe 1997), Don Ho ( actor), Duke Paoa Kahanamoku (sportsman), Samuel Kahanamoku (sportsman), Warren Kealoha (sportsman), Jack Johnson (singer-songwriter),Israel Kamakawiwo´ole (singer), Kristina Anapau (model and actress), Andy Bumatai (actor), and Kelly Hu (model and actress).

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In the 18th century, Bernice Pauahi Bishop should have been princess of Hawaii, but she did not accept it.She donated a number of sums of money and time to charity works. She died in 1884. Bernice Bishop is a national heroine in Hawaii.

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The state motto is "Ua Ma ke Ea o Ka Aina I ka Pono" (the life of the island is perpetuated in righteousness).

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Like Iceland, New Zealand and Taiwan, Hawaii is one of the most industrialized islands in the world, but at the same time, it has a sense of nature and a sense of beauty.

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Machu Pichu is one of the most famous ruins in the Latin America. It was discovered by a team headed by Hawaiian archaeologist Hiram Bingham in 1911.

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Duke Paoa Kahinu Mokoe Hulikohola Kahanamoku was one of the best athletes of the United States in the 20th century. He was born on August 24, 1890, in Honolulu, Hawaii. In his swimming career, he never lost a race from 1912 to 1920. He died on January 22 , 1968, in Honolulu.Duke Kahanamoku is a member of the American Olympic Hall of fame.