Consider this a sort of "catch all" page, an assemblage of informational tidbits that you may or may not find interesting.  Odds are you'll find some little known facts about Hawaii that give you an "I didn't know that", moment.

For instance, did you know that the "Hawaiian Islands" are actually an archipelago made up of over 100 islands stretching out over 1200 miles, most of which have been designated as a Marine National Monument?  French Frigate shoals are the largest of these islands with the highest point standing just 120' high, yet it hosts 90% of the Hawaiian green sea turtles nesting grounds.

Did you know?...Mount Waialeale on Kauai, averages over 440 inches of rain a year (since 1912, when records were started).  However, depending on what article you read you may also be told 426 inches or 466 inches a year.  Regardless of which you believe, that's still a LOT of rain!   It received a record setting 683 inches (56.9 feet/17.35 meters) of rain in 1982.  It is also recognized as either the wettest or the second wettest spot on earth. (The Guinness people recognize Mawsynram and Cherrapunji, India, as the wettest spots on earth.  Averaging 467.4" of rain per year in the last 38 years...bet you didn't know that either!)

Did you know?...that while the sea cliffs of the Na Pali coast of Kauai are impressive, standing some 1300 feet tall, the world's tallest sea cliffs are to be found on the island of Molokai.  These were formed hundreds of thousands of years ago when a cataclysmic earthquake caused a huge part of eastern Molokai to break-away from the remaining land mass, leaving these awesome sea cliffs standing over 3000', and scattering huge chunks of rock as far away as 100 miles.

Did you know? ... Mauna Kea, if measured from its ocean base, is the tallest mountain in the world at 56,000 feet.  Measured from sea level it's still 13,796 feet tall.  The winter of 2009-2010 was unusual in that there wasn't any snow to speak of on Mauna Kea or Mauna Loa, normally a fairly common occurrence during the months of Jan-Mar.

Did you know?...While Mauna Kea is the tallest volcano, Mauna Loa rises 13,679' above sea level, a mere 117' shorter than its sister across the valley, but Mauna Loa is the "larger" of the two.  As a matter of fact, Mauna Loa is the largest volcano in the world, in both volume and surface area covered.  Its volume is estimated at approximately 18,000 cubic miles (75,000 cubic kilometers)! 

Did you know?...Haleakala is the largest dormant volcano in the world.   No, I'm not contradicting what I just said about Mauna Loa.  Mauna Loa is the largest volcano, but it is an active volcano.  The distinction being, Haleakala is a dormant (sleeping) volcano.

Did you know?...Hawaii is the only state that commercially grows pineapples...and we're down to just two pineapple growers.  The Maui Land & Pineapple, Inc. had announced its closure at the end of 2009, but an agreement was reached with the newly formed Halimaile Pineapple Co, Ltd., to lease and continue to grow pineapples on 1000 acres of the former pineapple fields of Maui Land & Pineapple, beginning in January 2010.  They will continue to be marketed under the Maui Gold pineapple label.  Dole Foods, is the largest grower with 2700 acres of pineapples on Oahu and operates the Dole Plantation for visitors. 

Did you know?...Hawaii is the only state that grows coffee?  While gaining world-wide reputation as having the finest coffee and the label Kona-Coffee demands a premium price, coffee growing has spread throughout the state.  As sugar and pineapple production has declined, macadamia nuts and coffee growing have been on the rise.  Although you can get coffee from Kauai, Oahu, and Maui, you'll still pay more for Kona grown coffee.

Did you know?...that Great Britain owns a piece of Hawaii?  The small outcropping of land where the Captain Cook monument sits in Kealakekua Bay, on the Big Island was deeded to Great Britain by then, Princess Likelike.   A British warship still makes annual stops there to clean the monument, which was erected in his honor back in 1874.

Did you know?...that Naalehu, on the Big Island, is the southernmost community in the U.S.?  Of course, that also makes Punaluu Bakery, which relocated to Naalehu from Punaluu, the southernmost bakery in the U.S.  They make a great selection of flavored sweet bread, as well as your usual assortment of pastries.

And, of course, Ka Lae, South Point, is the southernmost point of the U.S.  Great trivia question, as most people think that Key West, FL is the southernmost point, but that is of the contiguous 48-states.