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300 Hawaii Trivia Questions, Answers, and Fun Facts

How much do you know about Hawaii? This category is for trivia questions and answers related to Hawaii (Geography). Each one is filled with fun facts and interesting information.
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1 On which Hawaiian island is the Parker Ranch located?
Answer: Hawai'i

The Parker Ranch was established on the Island of Hawai'i in 1847 on a grant of land made by King Kamehameha I to John Palmer Parker. The ranch continues to be worked by Hawaiian cowboys called paniolos; it is managed by Parker Ranch Foundation Trust. Horse races and a rodeo are sponsored at the ranch every Fourth of July.
    Your options: [ Moloka'i ] [ Kaua'i ] [ Hawai'i ] [ O'ahu ]
  From Quiz: Which of the Sandwich Islands? 7th Part
2 On which Hawaiian island is the Na Pali Coast located?
Answer: Kaua'i

The mountainous shoreline of the Napali Coast on Kauai's North Shore, in particular Manawaiopuna Falls, was the setting for much of the motion picture "Jurassic Park" (1993). The coast is accessible by hiking a challenging 17-mile trail, by tour boat or on an aerial tour from Lihue (about 90 miles away). The bold and the fit may also try a guided kayak or raft tour, as well. The terrain is rugged: high cliffs, numerous waterfalls, verdant valleys and lovely beaches.
    Your options: [ Lana'i ] [ O'ahu ] [ Kaua'i ] [ Moloka'i ]
  From Quiz: Which of the Sandwich Islands? 6th Part
3 On which Hawaiian island is Hilo located?
Answer: Hawai'i

Hilo is the opposite of the Kohala Coast of the Island of Hawai'i. It is on the northeastern side of the island, gets much more rain, is the home to waterfalls and rainforests, and does not have the volcanic look of the Kona side. Hilo is an old town, well developed in the 19th century, built around a bay and harbour. The town has been destroyed by tsunami on several occasions. It is the county seat, a tourist center, home of a branch of the University of Hawaii, Hilo Farmers Market, East Hawai'i Cultural Center, the Liliuokalani Gardens and Panaewa Rainforest Zoo (the Bengal tigers are not native to Hawai'i).
    Your options: [ Kaua'i ] [ Moloka'i ] [ O'ahu ] [ Hawai'i ]
  From Quiz: Which of the Sandwich Islands? 5th Part
4 On which Hawaiian island is the Banzai Pipeline located?
Answer: O'ahu

Numerous professional surfing events are held at the Banzai Pipeline on the North Shore of the Island of O'ahu. There are three reef breaks off Ehukai Beach Park in Pupukea. They produce curls as high 20 feet! The beach was known locally as Banzai Beach when filmmaker Bruce Brown named the waves "the pipeline" for a film he shot in 1961. As spectacular as the surfing is, it can also be extremely hazardous; many surfers (e.g. Jon Mozo and Tahitian Malik Joyeux) have been killed at this location.
    Your options: [ Kaua'i ] [ Lana'i ] [ Moloka'i ] [ O'ahu ]
  From Quiz: Which of the Sandwich Islands? 4th Part
5 On which Hawaiian island is Waikiki Beach located?
Answer: O'ahu

Probably the best-known beach in all of the Hawai'i is Waikiki on the south shore of O'ahu. The three-mile long beach was anciently reserved to Hawaiian royalty; now it is reserved to tourists. The Hawaiian word "waikiki" means spouting water. The beach is actually sheltered, safe to swim and snorkel, and offers modest surfing opportunities. The first luxury hotel was built in 1901; the area is now chock-a-block with fabulous hotels and resorts. The beach terminates at Mount Leahi (Diamond Head). The Honolulu Zoo and the Waikiki Aquarium are located in the neighbourhood.
    Your options: [ Kaua'i ] [ O'ahu ] [ Moloka'i ] [ Lana'i ]
  From Quiz: Which of the Sandwich Islands? 3rd Part
6 On which Hawaiian island is Lahaina located?
Answer: Maui

The former whaling town of Lahaina was the capital of the Kingdom of Hawaii from 1820 to 1845. Today it is a popular tourist destination on the Island of Maui. Front Street is a party in progress. The Banyan Court Park has one of the largest banyan trees (Ficus benghalensis) on the planet. It was planted by William Owen Smith on April 24, 1873. The Ancient Hawaiian name for Lahaina was Lele; the name Lahaina means cruel sun.
    Your options: [ Moloka'i ] [ Kaua'i ] [ Maui ] [ O'ahu ]
  From Quiz: Which of the Sandwich Islands? 2nd Part
7 On which Hawaiian island is Honolulu located?
Answer: O'ahu

Situated on the Island of O'ahu, Honolulu is both the largest city in the State of Hawai'i and the state capital. In the Hawaiian language, the city's name means sheltered harbour or calm port. The population is a remarkable mixture of races, cultures, and languages, reflective of a history of waves of immigration.
    Your options: [ Lana'i ] [ Kaua'i ] [ O'ahu ] [ Moloka'i ]
  From Quiz: Which of the Sandwich Islands? 1st Part
8 Which ocean is Maui located in?
Answer: Pacific

Maui is located in the middle part of the North Pacific Ocean. Maui is the second largest island in the Hawaiian island chain.
    Your options: [ Pacific ] [ Indian ] [ Atlantic ] [ Arctic ]
  From Quiz: Maui
9 Between 1778 and 1878 Hawaii's native population decreased by 80% to 90%. What was the reason for this?
Answer: introduction of new diseases

In January, 1778, British Captain James Cook and his crew of about 180 men arrived in Hawaii bringing, among other things, the European diseases smallpox, measles, influenza and whooping cough, for which the natives had no resistance. It is estimated that between 250,000 and 350,000 Hawaiians died in the next 100 years. At that point native Hawaiians still comprised about 75% of the population but that percentage has declined as people from all over the world settled in Hawaii and expanded their families or intermarried.
  From Quiz: Exploring Hawaii
10 Diamond Head is the most-photographed landmark in Hawaii. On which island can it be spotted?
Answer: O'ahu

Waikiki, Honolulu, and the majority of the state's population are located on O'ahu, despite it being the third largest of the Hawaiian Islands.

Note: Notice the "apostrophes" in some island names? Those are called 'okina, and they are an important part of pronouncing Hawaiian words properly. It's technically called a glottal stop, and it means that you should stop and insert a pause there. Example: Kaua'i is pronounced "cow-ah-ee," not "cow-why." Therefore, this question's answer should be pronounced "Oh-ah-who" instead of "Wahoo."
    Your options: [ Maui ] [ O'ahu ] [ Hawai'i ] [ Kaua'i ]
  From Quiz: Aloha! On Which Island?
11 Maui consists of two extinct volcanoes. Which of the two is older?
Answer: West Maui

West Maui is the shortest of all these mountains. It's had the most time to erode, so it's the oldest. Plus, Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea are on the still-active island of Hawai'i, so there much more recent. Mauna Kea is so tall, it can get some snow during the winter season.
    Your options: [ Haleakala ] [ Mauna Kea ] [ Mauna Loa ] [ West Maui ]
  From Quiz: Maui, Hawaii
12 From the top of Mauna Kea to sea level, what is the elevation of Mauna Kea?
Answer: 13,000 feet

Mauna Kea is probably the coldest part of the Big Island. I even saw a patch of snow believe it or not!
  From Quiz: The Big Island, Hawaii
13 When did Hawaii become a state?
Answer: August 21, 1959

On August 21, 1959 Hawaii became a state just a little time after Alaska, making Hawaii the last state to join the Union.
  From Quiz: All About Hawaii
14 How many of the islands that make up Hawaii are represented on the state flag?
Answer: eight

The Hawaii State flag consists of a Union Jack in the upper left hand corner and eight alternating red and blue stripes, representing the eight major islands of the island chain. They are Hawaii, Maui, Lanai, Kahoolawe, Molokai, Ohau, Kauai, and Niihau.
  From Quiz: Hawaiiana
15 Who wrote the novel "Hawaii," published in 1959?
Answer: James Michener

"Hawaii" is the story of the islands before they became a state, going all the way back to their creation. It's a fascinating blend of fact and fiction in the tradition of all great historical novels.
  From Quiz: Let's Go Hawaiian
16 Hawaii is also known as what state?
Answer: Aloha state

Aloha means hello in Polynesian.
  From Quiz: Island State of Hawaii
17 What is the nickname of Hawaii?
Answer: Aloha State

The state was nicknamed the Aloha State because aloha is used for hello and goodbye, and also means love.
  From Quiz: All Things Hawaiian
18 What year was Hawaii admitted to the Union?
Answer: 1959

Hawaii is the 50th state, admitted to the Union on August 21, 1959.
  From Quiz: Hawaii Fun Facts
19 The state of Hawaii consists of how many main islands?
Answer: eight

They are Niihau, Kauai, Oahu, Maui, Molokai, Lanai, Kahoolawe and the Big Island of Hawaii.
  From Quiz: Hawaii
20 Mt. Waialeale. This is considered to be the wettest spot in the world.
Answer: Kauai

Kauai-nicknamed 'The Garden Isle'. Mt. Waialeale pronounced (wy-ah-lay-ah-lay) is located in the center of the island with an elevation of 5,148 feet. It averages over 400 inches of rain a year. Its record year was 665.5 inches.
    Your options: [ Oahu ] [ Molokai ] [ Maui ] [ Kauai ]
  From Quiz: Hawaii State
21 The string of flowers sewn together and tied at the ends to form a circle - given on special occasions to loved ones is called a:
Answer: lei

Leis are given at almost any special occasion (especially graduations) to a loved one - be it a family member or just a close friend. It is a symbol of love.
    Your options: [ aloha ] [ lei ] [ poi ] [ luau ]
  From Quiz: Hawaii
22 ʻIolani Palace can be found on which Hawaiian island?
Answer: O'ahu

In downtown Honolulu on the Island of O'ahu, the 'Iolani Palace was the home of the kings and queens of the Kamehameha Dynasty and Kalākaua Dynasty from 1845 until 1893. Queen Liliʻuokalani was the last royal resident. The building was thereafter used as a seat of government until 1969. It was thereafter restored and opened to the public as a museum in 1978. It is the only royal palace within the United States. The palace was seen frequently on the US television programme "Hawaii Five-O" as the headquarters of the state police force.
    Your options: [ Hawai'i ] [ Lana'i ] [ O'ahu ] [ Maui ]
  From Quiz: Which of the Sandwich Islands? 7th Part
23 The Hulihee Palace can be found on which Hawaiian island?
Answer: Hawai'i

In the heart of "downtown" Kailua-Kona on the Island of Hawai'i sits the Hulihee Palace, the vacation home of the Hawaiian royal family built in 1838. It is located on Ali'i Drive which wends through the center of Historic Kailua Village. The home has been preserved as a museum containing items from the Victorian era of King Kalakaua and Queen Kapiolani. Admission is by purchased ticket.
    Your options: [ Ni'ihau ] [ Lana'i ] [ Hawai'i ] [ Maui ]
  From Quiz: Which of the Sandwich Islands? 6th Part
24 Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve can be found on which Hawaiian island?
Answer: O'ahu

Hanauma Bay was created by a volcanic cone near Honolulu on the Island of O'ahu. It affords a highly-protected area for marine life. A nature preserve was established there in 1967 to protect the resource. The word "hana" is Hawaiian for bay and "uma" describes the curve of a canoe's hull, similar to the shape of the bay. Snorkeling is popular here because of the number, the density and the variety of fish. The great popularity and consequent overuse of the preserve has led to restrictions on access which need to be investigated prior to a visit.
    Your options: [ Lana'i ] [ Hawai'i ] [ Maui ] [ O'ahu ]
  From Quiz: Which of the Sandwich Islands? 5th Part
25 Pu'uhonua O Hōnaunau National Historical Park can be found on which Hawaiian island?
Answer: Hawai'i

In earlier days in Hawai'i, a person who violated a kapu (a law prohibiting something) could flee to a place of refuge (puʻuhonua) and thereby avoid death. The Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park on the west coast of the Island of Hawai'i is such a place. The park was established in 1955 as the "City of Refuge National Historical Park" but was renamed in 1978. The Hale o Keawe temple was originally built around 1650 and was reconstructed in the 1960s on the site. The bones of many Hawaiian chiefs were buried there; to prevent their looting, they were removed to the Royal Mausoleum of Hawaii in Honolulu in 1858.
    Your options: [ Maui ] [ Kaho'olawe ] [ Ni'ihau ] [ Hawai'i ]
  From Quiz: Which of the Sandwich Islands? 4th Part
26 The East Hawaii Cultural Center can be found on which Hawaiian island?
Answer: Hawai'i

In what was the police station and courthouse in Hilo on the Island of Hawai'i, the East Hawaii Cultural Center is located. The center contains an art gallery of local artists, a community theatre and a cultural center offering classes and workshops. The East Hawaii Cultural Council was founded in 1967, comprising a number of local arts organizations interested in promoting Hawaiian culture.
    Your options: [ Maui ] [ Hawai'i ] [ Ni'ihau ] [ Kaho'olawe ]
  From Quiz: Which of the Sandwich Islands? 3rd Part
27 The Road to Hana can be found on which Hawaiian island?
Answer: Maui

The Road to Hana is 64.4 miles long. It includes portions of Hawaii Routes 36 and 360 which connect the town of Kahului to the town of Hana in east Maui. Because the road is one-lane in many places and crosses numerous one-lane bridges (46 of them), it takes at least three hours to drive. Construction began in the 1900s, the road was "completed" in 1926, and finally completely paved in the 1960s. There are numerous places to stop along the road, e.g. waterfalls, the Seven Sacred Pools, and the grave site of Charles Lindbergh.
    Your options: [ Ni'ihau ] [ Lana'i ] [ Maui ] [ Hawai'i ]
  From Quiz: Which of the Sandwich Islands? 2nd Part
28 Kalaupapa can be found on which Hawaiian island?
Answer: Moloka'i

Kalaupapa is the site of the infamous leper colony created by King Kamehameha V in 1866. It was here that Father Damien, a Roman Catholic priest, tended to the people afflicted with Hansen's Disease. The community sits at the base of high sea cliffs on the Island of Moloka'i and is largely inaccessible. The community still exists (tho' not as a leper colony) and visitation is strictly limited.
    Your options: [ Ni'ihau ] [ Maui ] [ Moloka'i ] [ Hawai'i ]
  From Quiz: Which of the Sandwich Islands? 1st Part
29 What is the tallest volcano on Maui?
Answer: Haleakala

Haleakala is visible from just about anywhere on the island of Maui. It is now considered a dormant volcano, with the last eruption around 1500 years ago.
  From Quiz: Maui
30 Don't boot this question, tell me which star rises directly above Hawaii?
Answer: Arcturus

Called Hokule'a by Hawaiians, Arcturus is the brightest star in the northern celestial hemisphere. It is in the constellation Bootes.
    Your options: [ Sirius ] [ Polaris ] [ Crux ] [ Arcturus ]
  From Quiz: Exploring Hawaii
31 Downtown Honolulu is home to many historical buildings, including Aloha Tower, which was the tallest building in Hawaii when it was first built along the downtown waterfront. What is the distinctive feature of this historical structure?
Answer: clock faces

Built in 1926, Aloha Tower has been a fixture at Honolulu Harbor. It has stood over thousands of tourists arriving and leaving on cruise liners, tugboats pulling vessels in and out of the harbor, and the urbanization of downtown Honolulu. Today, it stands over a redeveloped port area, with a shopping/restaurant complex replacing the docks.
    Your options: [ aloha print tiles ] [ wraparound Hawaiian flag ] [ clock faces ] [ rooftop restaurant ]
  From Quiz: A Tour of Honolulu
32 Which UNESCO World Heritage Site (the only one in Hawaii) is located on Hawai'i Island?
Answer: Volcanoes National Park

Often called "The Big Island," the island of Hawai'i is the largest island in the archipelago. Kilauea Volcano, located within the park, is the most active volcano in the world. It has been erupting for over 25 years!
    Your options: [ City of Refuge (Pu'uhonua O Honaunau) ] [ Volcanoes National Park ] [ King Kamehameha's birthplace in Kohala ] [ The Mauna Kea Observatories ]
  From Quiz: Aloha! On Which Island?
33 There are over a 120 islands within the United States, some fairly large islands and a majority of very small ones. By land area from largest to smallest, what number is Moloka'i?
Answer: 27th

I always thought that Moloka'i was one of the smaller islands but as it turns out there are a lot of islands in the U.S. that are much smaller. Moloka'i follows Alaska's Montague Island at 279 square miles and precedes Alaska's Dall Island at 253 square miles.
  From Quiz: Moloka'i - The Friendly Isle
34 Just north of the city of Lahaina, there's an old wharf that was sunk during Hurricane Iniki. What's the name of this wharf, now a popular SCUBA, snorkeling and surfing site?
Answer: Mala Wharf

Mala Wharf was built by US military engineers. Ironically, they built the wharf where everyone said not to build it. It's a great spot for a night dive.
  From Quiz: Maui, Hawaii
35 The world's most active volcano is on the island of Hawai'i. What is its name?
Answer: Kilauea

Kilauea has been erupting continuously since Jan. 3, 1983 (over 20 years!). A 12 acre lava bench, formed when the lava hit the ocean and cooled, collapsed spectacularly in Sept. 2005, reminding us of the power of nature.
  From Quiz: "Da Best" of Hawaii
36 What is so special about Mauna Kea?
Answer: The observatories

Mauna Kea has over 13 observatories. In the video that they showed, (which was filmed in the 1980s) it said that they had 13 with many more to come.
  From Quiz: The Big Island, Hawaii
37 What is Hawaii's area code?
Answer: 808

Hawaii is one of only a few states to have only one area code. All the other area codes are in Oregon.
  From Quiz: All About Hawaii
38 Captain James Cook is credited with being the first European visitor to the Islands, which were "discovered" during his last voyage in the 1800s. When did he join the British Navy?
Answer: 1755

Captain Cook also sailed to Australia and other parts of the Pacific to gather botanical information for the Crown.
    Your options: [ 1755 ] [ 1739 ] [ 1729 ] [ 1765 ]
  From Quiz: Hawaiiana
39 Alaska became the 49th state in 1959. In what year did Hawaii become the 50th?
Answer: 1959

Alaska was admitted Jan. 3; Hawaii admitted Aug. 21. Last states admitted before that were New Mexico and Arizona, both in 1912.
  From Quiz: Let's Go Hawaiian
40 What year did Hawaii become a state?
Answer: 1959

On August 21, 1959, under President Eisenhower, the islands of Hawaii became the 50th state in the union.
  From Quiz: All Things Hawaiian
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