FAQ’s
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How were the Hawaiian Islands formed? How many volcanoes are in Hawaii? How many islands are in Hawaii?
The Hawaiian islands are very different land forms from the Mainland USA. Hawaii was formed when a molten ‘hot spot’ weakened the Earth’s crust until it broke open and molten lava started pumping out. That one ‘hot spot’ stays in the same place as the Pacific Tectonic Plate moves slowly northeast towards Japan and has created all of the Hawaiian Islands. There are actually 132 islands (8 major islands and 124 smaller islands, reefs, atolls and shoals) in the Hawaiian Island Chain that have been created by that one hot spot over hundreds of millions of years. The chain runs 1,600 miles (2,560 kilometers) from the oldest formation, the Kure Atoll in the northwest, to the Big Island of Hawaii in the southeast. Only 7 main islands are considered part of the State of Hawaii: Kauai, Molokai, Lanai, Maui, Koho’olawe, Oahu, and the Big Island of Hawaii. Kauai, the oldest of the seven main islands began forming almost 6 million years ago, and stopped erupting only 4.2 million years ago!
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How high are the volcanoes?
All of the Hawaiian Islands are made from several volcanoes ranging from a few feet above sea level to the tallest volcano in the islands, Mauna Kea on the Big Island of Hawaii which stands 13,796 ft above sea level (plus another 18,000 feet below sea level!). Another tall volcano located on the Big Island is Mauna Loa which stands 13,680 ft. Because of erosion (after a million years of rain, wind and waves) some volcano craters are only a hundred feet above sea level. (That’s about as tall as a coconut tree) Hanauma Bay had 1/3 of its’ volcanic crater fall into the ocean during an earthquake and filled with sea water. Now it is a popular snorkeling spot on Oahu, a marine preserve teeming with sea life.The lowest crater has to be Molokini. A small island south of nearby Maui, Molokini rises a mere 45 ft at its’ highest and forms a thin crescent shaped island excellent for snorkeling and diving.
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Do volcanoes usually erupt in Hawaii? How often do volcanoes erupt?
There is currently one island that is volcaniCally active, Hawaii also known as the Big Island. Mauna Loa is an active volcano on the Big Island. Kilauea has been erupting non-stop since 1989, but it isn’t shooting magma up in the air all that time as you might imagine. Currently the most visible molten rock flows from Kilauea Caldera at Pu’u o’o vent where most of the magma flows through lava tubes and abruptly meets the ocean creating new land. Within the last decade another vent spewing molten lava was discovered 20 miles South of the Big Island. It’s Called Loihi Sea Mount and is still under water. Unfortunately none of us will live the 10,000 years to see it become an island.
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How hot is the lava in Hawaii?
This is kind of a trick question. Magma is molten rock below the Earth’s surface, and lava is molten rock that flows freely on the surface. Since lava is actually melted rock the temperatures are extremely hot and very depending on the geological composition of magma. To give you a general idea, lava that’s hot enough to flow is about 2000-5000 degrees Fahrenheit!
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Does taking lava really give you bad luck?
You might be tempted to take some lava home from your Hawaiian vacation as prized keepsakes but beware that this will anger ‘Pele’ the Hawaiian volcano goddess. Pele is probably the most well known of the legendary Hawaiian demigods. She creates and destroys with fire. Pele has a quick temper and takes offenses seriously. There are several traditions concerning Pele, the best known of these is about lava rocks. Since Pele created the islands the lava rock is like her flesh or a piece of her. It’s said that misfortune will befall anyone who removes lava rock away from Hawaii. This also includes black sand, which is pulverized lava rock. There is a large display at the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park of lava rocks sent back to Hawaii by visitors who have had bad luck since taking them home. Letters of apology also on display accompanied the rocks begging Pele for forgiveness. If you would like to return lava rock you have taken from any Hawaiian Island you can return it to Pele by mailing it to: Headquarters, Volcanoes National Park, Volcano, HI 96785
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How big is Hawaii? How many mountains are there? Are there many beaches?
The state of Hawaii is 6,427 square miles. Only Rhode Island, Delaware and Connecticut are smaller. There are many, many mountains in Hawaii. Volcanoes, which have eroded into lush green mountains created all of Hawaii. Everywhere you can go you can see beautiful waterfalls, peaks, and valleys. The islands have snow capped mountains, deep canyons, lush rainforest, and many miles of beautiful beaches. The Islands are surrounded by water and are subject to wave erosion. Having waves crashing against the shores for thousands of years has created beaches all around the islands.
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How far is Hawaii from the USA? What is the time difference in Hawaii?
Hawaii became the 50th state of the United States of America in 1959. It is located about 2,160 miles from California, which would be the closest state on the Mainland USA to Hawaii. Hawaii is about 6,000 miles from Washingtom, DC. Hawaii is in it’s own time zone Called Hawaii Standard Time (HST). HST is 3 hours BEHIND Pacific Standard Time and 6 hours BEHIND Eastern Standard Time in the Spring & Summer. Deduct an hour for Daylight Savings during the Fall and Winter.
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What is the climate in Hawaii? Does it snow in Hawaii?
Because the Hawaiian Islands have lots of different environments (rainforest, beach, desert) there are lots of different climates. In places like Waikiki, Kailua-Kona, Kihei, and other beach towns it is nice and warm almost all year round. The rain forest region is located up in the mountains where the rain clouds collect after the moisture evaporates. This region is cooler and wetter due to the rain and tree coverage. This is also where you will find lots of waterfalls! The desert regions are very hot and dry and you can even find cactus growing, there is very little rain. On the Big Island fields of lava from past eruptions look like huge parking lots. Not much grows in this area, there are miles and miles of nothing but black lava. This region is very hot and dry. The summit of the taller mountains are very cold with high winds year round. The summits (top) of the tallest mountains in the islands do get snow in the winter. There are three mountains that get snow, Mauna Kea (13,796 ft) and Mauna Loa (13,680 ft) on the Big Island and Mt. Haleakala (10,023 ft) on Maui. Because these mountains are so tall it will snow on these summits and at the same time be sunny and 80 degrees at the beach. Mauna Kea is actually the tallest mountain in the world when measured from the sea floor to the summit.
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Is it really hot in Hawaii? What is the average temperature?
It does get hot sometimes but there usually is a nice breeze blowing from the Northeast, Called ‘the trade winds,’ which keeps everyone cool when the sun is hot. Hawaii is located close to the equator so the sun is very strong. When the trade winds don’t blow it can get very hot and humid. This doesn’t happen very often though. It averages in the high 80’s during the day and high 70’s during the night in the summer. It averages in the high 70’s during the day and low 70’s during the night in the winter. It is a very comfortable year round range of 66-88 degrees F (78 degree avg.) We are able to wear shorts all year long, but in the winter we may have to put on pants or a light jacket in the evening.
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What is the highest & lowest temperatures recorded in Hawaii?
Highest recorded temperature: 100 degrees in Pahala Hawaii in April 1931 Lowest recorded temperature: 12 degrees on the summit of the volcano Mauna Kea in May 1979.
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How do rainbows happen, anyway? Can you see rainbows every day in Hawaii?
A rainbow forms when raindrops falling through the air separate white sunlight into a spectrum. It is seen usually in the sky opposite to the sun and also in the spray from waterfalls. When the sunlight enters a raindrop it is refracted, or bent, and reflected from the back surface of the drop in such a way that the viewer sees light appear as a spectrum of colors! The colors can be seen, however, only when the angle of reflection between the sun, the drop of water, and the observer’s line of vision is between 40° and 42°. We see a lot of double rainbows in Hawaii. In the brightest or primary rainbow, often the only one seen, the colors are arranged with the red outside. Above the perfect bow is a secondary bow, in which the colors are arranged in reverse order; this bow is dimmer, because of a double reflection within the drops. You will often see rainbows while in Hawaii and that also means it does rain: usually light rain in the mountain areas. From Waikiki look skyward for rainbows toward Manoa Valley or downtown Honolulu early in the day. As the sun rises higher, rainbows will appear lower in the sky or even low to the ground. It is probably possible to see a rainbow every day somewhere in the islands. If it is sprinkling and sunny out at the same time that is when a rainbow is visible. Depending on the position of the sun and how much rain is falling the rainbow may appear as a partial rainbow, a full sky rainbow, a really fat rainbow with wide bands of color, and even a double rainbow where two rainbows appear at the same time.
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Is the Pacific Ocean cold?
Compared to the Atlantic Ocean the Pacific Ocean is very warm. The average temperature of the waters around the Hawaiian islands is 78 degrees year round. But Hawaii actually has the coldest waters in the Indo-Pacific region. Other waters in the Pacific must be like taking a bath!
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Is the ocean really as blue as it appears in the photos on your web site?
YES! The ocean water is blue because of microscopic red algae (plants). The red algae absorb the red/orange color in sunlight, so we see mostly blue. Depending on how deep the ocean is it can appear in many beautiful shades of blue. In the shallow waters yellow-ish sand reflects light to make the ocean appear turquoise green! (Blue + Yellow = Green)
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How big are waves in Hawaii? How big was the BIGGEST wave in Hawaii?
Hawaiian waves are measured from the back, so a 6ft wave in California is equivalent to a 3ft wave in Hawaii. The largest waves are in the winter time on the North sides of the islands. During the winter months the waves on the North shores range 4 to 40 feet. During the summer months the North shores range 1 to 3 feet. On the South shores the waves range 3 to 15 feet in the summer and 1-3 feet in the winter. The size of the waves is determined by the way the islands were formed and by storms that occur in the Pacific Ocean. Earthquakes in Japan and Alaska can cause huge Tsunami’s (some Call them tidal waves) in Hawaii. The energy of the earthquake travels through the ocean and can create waves taller than a 16 story building! (That’s 160 feet!)
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Do you see dolphins?
We’ve seen dolphins from shore several times. They jump and flip around in the air, spinning up out of the water. We have also been swimming with the dolphins at Dolphin Quest lagoon on the Big Island at the Hilton Waikoloa. We fed fish to them, kissed them, and learned a lot of interesting things about them. Two neat things we learned were that their bellies feels like the ridges on a record album and it turns pink when they are happy! There is a bay on the Big Island and Lanai where wild dolphins often go for morning swims. If you encounter wild dolphins do not touch or feed them. You could infect them with harmful germs and they could bite you trying to defend themselves from your aggressive moves. Just swim with your hands to your side and enjoy the moment!
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What can you see whales doing when you whale watch?
Humpback whales come from Alaska to Hawaii in December every year to give birth to their calves in the warmer waters of Hawaii as well as to mate. You are able to spot whales from land at several lookouts around the islands. You usually just see a spray of water blast up when the whales surface to breathe air. Whales breathe oxygen from the air like humans do, unlike fish which absorb oxygen from the ocean water and can NOT breath out of the ocean. Sometimes the whales lift their tailsor flukes out of the water or slap their flipper on the surface. Whales also just pop their head out of the water which is Called a eye spy. Sometimes if you are really lucky the whales will jump out of the water and land on their side, this is Called breaching. Maui is known to have the largest transient population during Humpback whale season and also has the most frequent sightings. If you see a whale while out on a boat keep in mind that it’s illegal to approach a whale closer than 500 feet(166yds). Often on Maui whale watching boat tours they cut their engines and float in whale territory and the whales will come right up to the boat to investigate. It is OK if the whales approach you, just do not touch or feed the whales because this can pass harmful germs to the whales. You can see whales around any of the islands between the end of December and the end of April.
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What kinds of animals live in Hawaii?
Hawaii has 8,800 native species found only in Hawaii. Sadly, most of the animals that are only found in Hawaii are endangered. Being isolated on these islands has allowed any animals that made it here to evolve in unique ways. Hawaiian Monk Seals and Hawaiian Green Sea Turtles are endangered species. The Hawaii state bird is the Nene Goose and they are also endangered species. Hawaii once had lots of different non-flying birds only found in the Hawaiian Islands. Many of the first native birds that evolved in the islands were ground dwellers and they had no predators to need to fly from on their isolated island home. Once the rats made it to the island on the canoes of first Hawaiian settlers then they began to eat the birds eggs, then the birds. The early native Hawaiians also hunted the flightless birds as a food source. To help save the birds people introduced mongoose to eat the rats. Unfortunately the mongoose are diurnal, which means they hunt during the day, and the rats are nocturnal, which means they hunt at night, so now Hawaii has both wild mongoose and rats. Other animals that were introduced to Hawaii by early merchant ships visiting Hawaii are deer, goats, and wild pigs with big tusks. These animals were brought so the sailors on merchant ships could have fresh meat when they came the islands. Many citrus fruit trees were also brought to Hawaii by merchant ships so the sailors could have fresh fruits that would combat scurvy while they were in the Hawaiian Islands. There aren’t any squirrels, chipmunks, or snakes in Hawaii. If snakes ever made it to Hawaii they would slither up trees to birds nests and would kill off the remaining native birds in the islands. Brown Tree Snakes are responsible for this in Guam where there are no longer birds on the island.
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What kinds of fruits can I see growing by the roadside in Hawaii?
You will find a variety of island fruits growing on roadside farms, along rainforest trails, and in residential yards. Fruits like papaya, pineapple, coconut, macadamia nut, coffee, mountain apple, guava, avocado, mango, oranges, lemon, lime, lychee, grapefruit, star fruit, pomello, bananas, passion fruit, pomegranate, taro, breadfruit, strawberry guava, and more! You may be tempted to stop and pick some growing on the side of the road. Please do not trespass onto someone’s farm or private property to try to sample fresh growing island treats. Hefty fines can be imposed if you are caught doing so, especially from commercial farms and pineapple fields. If you go hiking and know what you’re looking for you can find refreshing treats growing along mountain trails. If you collect or purchase fresh fruits please note they can only be taken outside of the Hawaiian Islands if they are agriculturally inspected. If you would like to take fresh island pineapple or papaya home with you there are vendors at the island airports that sell pre-inspected fresh fruits in handy carry cases ideal for taking a back a bit of paradise with you.
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How many people live in Hawaii?
In 1998 the State of Hawaii reported 1,193,001 people live in the state of Hawaii. The city and county of Honolulu is the home to the majority of residents with 872,478 Calling it home. Almost 7 million additional people visit the islands each year. In 1998 the state of Hawaii reported the ethnicity breakdown of Hawaii’s residents as: Caucasian 22%; Hawaiian/part Hawaiian 21%; Japanese 18%; Filipino 13%; Chinese 3%; Black 1%; Hispanic origin 7.3%. Less than 1% of Hawaii’s population is pure Hawaiian, meaning they are descendants from peoples who populated the Hawaiian islands prior to 1776, before contact with non-Hawaiians.
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How high do the palm trees get?
Palm trees can grow to 80 feet, about 8 stories on a building. On Kauai, Molokai, and Lanai there are laws that no building can be taller than the tallest palm tree on the island. This keeps these islands looking very natural and not like a big city.
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How much green do you see all day?
Lots! There are plants, flowers, and trees inside and outside. The mountains are very green from the rain forest that covers them. In the city there are beautiful flowering trees, palm trees, and lots of ground flowers. Lots of people are very creative with beautiful trees, plants, and nicely groomed lawns in their yards. In office buildings there are great arrangements of tropical flowers, mini palm trees, and even indoor waterfalls! Being in a tropical environment is very beautiful and relaxing.
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Do they have Christmas in Hawaii?
Yes, Mele Kalikimaka (Meh-lay Kah-lee-kee-mah-kah) is how you say Merry Christmas in Hawaiian. We have our live-cut Christmas trees shipped in from Washington state and Alaska. Santa is at the mall to find out what is on everyone’s wish list. Lots of businesses and tall buildings put up holiday lights. It really puts us in the holiday spirit to drive around and look at all the decorations.
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Is the Polynesian Cultural Center worth it, or a tourist trap?
The Polynesian Cultural Center is both worth it, and a “tourist trap.” You will see ancient style villages, crafts and tools along with demonstrations from each of the seven isles of Polynesia who’s people came to inhabit these islands from AD500 to the 1700’s. You won’t see Hawaii’s people living in a little grass shack, Honolulu has all of the modern conveniences of an average city. If you wish to see ancient Polynesian life you will enjoy the Polynesian Cultural Center. There also is a great Imax movie, and an elaborate river parade. The crowd is pretty large there and the lu’au is nothing special, it’s not like going to the others. You eat a Hawaii buffet in a pavilion. The entertaining night show is later in the evening at their outdoor auditorium and is the best. Everything told to you is also said in Japanese and that can be distracting, and the ‘cheap seats’ are a bit far from the stage. To see it all, you spend seven to nine hours of your time here, including round-trip transportation. It’s about an hour from The Polynesian Cultural Center in La’ie to Waikiki.
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What type of nightlife is available in Hawaii?
The Waikiki area of Oahu, the Kona area of the Big Island, and the Lahaina area of Maui all offer a variety of nighttime entertainment for adults. There are unique cocktail shows, bars, dance clubs, “men’s clubs”, sunset cruises, and a wide selection of restaurants. Some dance clubs are for 18 year olds and older. Other clubs are for those 21 years old and over. There are also family oriented activities like star gazing adventures, laser tag, magic shows, movies, and other unique dinner shows. Oahu has the most evening activity options.
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Can I just show up in Hawaii with my camping gear and sleep on the beach?
Camping in Hawaii is a great way to enjoy Hawaii’s natural beauty to the fullest. You can set up camp by the ocean or even hike to remote areas of the island like lush valleys and hidden coves. However, you can not just show up and put up a tent anywhere. If you plan to stay at a State or County Park or Campground you will are required to apply for a camping permit prior to your arrival. Park rangers will be checking it to ensure the permit is for the park and dates listed. Permit applications must be received at least 7 days before the event and no earlier than 1 year in advance. The maximum length of stay allowable under each permit at any one park is 5 consecutive nights. Another camping permit for the same park can be issued to any adult covered under a previous permit only after 30 days have elapsed. Some parks also offer cabins for rent. For more information on camping areas and permits please Call the Division of State Parks: (Oahu) 808 587-0300, (Hawaii- The Big Island) 808 974-6200, (Maui) 808 984-8109, (Kauai) 808 274-3444.
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