By Kristina Eng
Oops! I want to go home!
Although there are people who think Hawaii is great for it�s beautiful surrounding waters and beaches, Hawaii does have a background that most people don�t know. Some of these facts of Hawaii include�
� Flower: Hibiscus or Pua Aloalo (Hibiscus brackenridgei)
� Motto: �Ua mau ke ea o ka aina I ka pono� (�The life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness�)
� Hawaii is the only state that grows coffee.
� From east to west Hawaii is the widest state in the United States.
� There are only 12 letters in the Hawaiian alphabet.
- Vowels: A, E, I, O, U
- Consonants: H, K, L, M, N, P, W
� State Fish: Humuhumunukunukuapua'a (The Reef triggerfish) (Rhinecanthus rectangulus)
� More than one-third of the world's commercial supply of pineapples comes from Hawaii.
� Distance: It�s the most isolated population center on Earth. 2,390 miles from California, 3,850 miles from Japan, 4,900 miles from China and 5,280 miles from the Philippines.
� State Bird: nene (Hawaiian goose)
� State Tree: Kukui - Candlenut (aleurites moluccana)
� The Hawaiian Islands are of volcanic origin and are edged with coral reefs.
� Topography: Eight main islands, which are the tops of a chain of submerged volcanic mountains; active volcanoes: Mauna Loa, Kilauea
� Origin of state's name: Could be based on native Hawaiian word for homeland, "Owhyhee"
