Hawaiʽi is an exotic destination with a rich and culturally diverse history. Whether you travel for adventure, culinary experiences, culture, art and history, sports and activity, Hawaiʽi is the place. Oh, and there is also a beach or two.
After last week’s adventure on Oʽahu, I thought I’d share a few interesting tidbits about this enchanting destination that you may or may not know.
1) Lei, (pronounced lay) is the same when singular or plural. There is no such word as “leis”.
2) It is bad form and bad luck to give a pregnant woman a closed lei. Gift her with an open lei.
3) The “w” in Hawaiʽi is pronounced like a “v”. Unless it is the first letter in a name – such as Waikiki, “w” will sound like “v”.
4) There are 13 letters in the Hawaiian alphabet and five of those are vowels. The ʽokina (backwards looking apostrophe) is considered a consonant and signifies a pause or glottal stop. Words with an ʽokina have different pronunciations and meanings - “kai” means “ocean” and “kaʽi” means “to lead”.
5) Hawaiʽi is the only US state that was once a Kingdom. Ruled as a monarchy until 1893 when US colonists overthrew the Hawaiian Kingdom in a coup. Five years later, it became a US territory. King Kamehameha Day is a state holiday.
6) Hula is performed by male and female dancers. Female-only hula is “Hollywood hula”.
7) Kilauea is currently the world’s most active volcano, erupting continuously since 1983. The island grows by 42 acres a year due to lava deposits.
8) The state is home to ten of the world’s 14 climate zones and all ten can be found on the Island of Hawaiʽi, or “big island”
9) The Hoary bat and Monk Seal are the only native mammals. The islands are too remote for land mammals to have made way to the archipelago. Their most famous mammal, the mongoose, was actually imported.
10) Aloha is not just a word or greeting. It is a way of life – love, charity, hospitality, warmth. The Aloha spirit is part of the culture of the Hawaiian people, a mantra spread by all and infused in everyday life. When you visit Hawaii you are embraced and enveloped by the Aloha Spirit.
Ready to go to Hawaii? Call 888-429-1929 or email travel@sevenwondersgrouptravel.com today to schedule a free consultation.