Hawaii Trivia: Test Your Knowledge!

Hawai‘i is such a fascinating place with tons of facts and tidbits to glean. How well do you think you know the islands? We put together some trivia questions so you can put your knowledge to the test, and maybe even impress your friends and family with your HIIQ (Hawai‘i Intelligence Quotient). The answers are down below—no cheating!. 

Got your thinking caps secured? Okay, then. Get ready, get set… GO!

1.  The Hawaiian islands are the projecting tops of one of the largest mountain ranges in the world. How does this range match up in comparison to the world’s largest?

a)  First largest
b)  Fourth largest
c)  Ninth largest

2.  How does Honolulu match up to the world’s largest cities in terms of geographical size?

a)  Biggest
b)  Eleventh biggest. Meh.
c)  Twenty-first biggest. I mean, is that even considered “big” anymore?

3.  The average high temperature in Hawaii (at or near sea level) is in the 80’s for how many months of the year?

a)  Seven months. So, just a little more than half.
b)  Ten months of the year. Or 5/6ths, for you reductionists.
c)  Twelve months. That’s like, the whole year.

4.  Of the approximately 1,400 plant species that live in Hawai‘i, what percentage are not found anywhere else in the world?

a)  20%
b)  45%
c)  90%

5.  Hawai‘i is one of only two U.S. states that does not observe Daylight Savings Time. The other is:

a)  Alaska
b)  Arizona
c)  Maine

Okay, let’s see how you did!

1.  Mount Everest is the tallest mountain on Earth above sea level at 29,035 feet, while Mauna Kea only rises 13,796 from sea level. HOWEVER… this titan of a mountain measures 33,500 feet from its base at the bottom of the ocean, taking the top spot. Answer: a) The largest!

2.  By Hawai‘i State Constitution, any land, islands, or islets not specifically part of Hawai‘i’s four counties (Honolulu, Maui, Kauai and Hawai‘i) is part of the City of Honolulu. That means Honolulu stretches all the way to Midway Island, 1,500 miles northwest of the main islands. Answer: a) We’re the biggest, babyyyyy!

3.  Honolulu is the only city in the United States that can make this boast, giving greater meaning to the phrase “Lucky we live Hawai‘i!”. Answer: c)  12 months

4.  All plants originally arrived on Hawai‘i one of three ways: by wind, by wing or by water. Approximately 96% arrived via birds. Because Hawai‘i is the most isolated land mass in the world, plants that evolved here from their earliest forms rarely made it off the islands, making them unique in the world. Answer: c) 90%. Dang!

5.  The state of Arizona (with the exception of the Navajo Nation) does not observe Daylight Savings because of the extremely high temperatures during their summer. Residents prefer to have the sun set sooner rather than later during the months associated with Daylight Savings. Because of Hawai‘i’s tropical latitude, the variation of daylight hours between winter and summer is less than the Continental United States. Answer: b) Arizone

So how’d you do? Let us know on Facebook or Instagram! (@thisweekhawaii)