Developing a Theme

Decorations and Refreshments

Because this theme has easy-to-find resources for decorations and refreshments, we thought that you would benefit more by having some little-known facts about the Hawaiian islands. I trust this information will help you as you brainstorm your event. We have also inserted a fun matching game using the different Hawaiian expressions. Feel free to copy and use.

• The state of Hawaii consists of eight main islands: Niihau, Kauai, Oahu, Maui, Molokai, Lanai, Kahoolawe and the Big Island of Hawaii.
• Hawaii is the most isolated population center on the face of the earth. Hawaii is 2,390 miles from California; 3,850 miles from Japan; 4,900 miles from China; and 5,280 miles from the Philippines.
• Hawaii is the only state that grows coffee.
• More than one-third of the world’s commercial supply of pineapples comes from Hawaii.
• There are only 12 letters in the Hawaiian alphabet.

Vowels: A, E, I, O, U

Consonants: H, K, L, M, N, P, W

• From east to west Hawaii is the widest state in the United States.
• The Hawaiian Islands are the projecting tops of the biggest mountain range in the world.
• Honolulu’s zenith star, the star that rises directly above it, is Arcturus. The Hawaiians called it Hokule’a. (Hoe koo lay uh.)
• Hawaii was the 50th state admitted to the union on August 20th, 1959.
• Island flowers and colors used to represent each island:

Niihau – Pupu Shell – White

Kauai – Mokihana (Green Berry) – Purple

Oahu – Ilima -Yellow

Maui – Lokelani (Pink Cottage Rose) – Pink

Molokai – White Kukui Blossom – Green

Lanai – Kaunaoa (Yellow and Orange Air Plant) – Orange

Kahoolawe – Hinahina (Beach Heliotrope) – Grey

Big Island of Hawaii – Lehua Ohia – Red

• Hawaii has its own time zone—Hawaiian Standard Time. (There is no daylight savings time.) The time runs two hours behind Pacific Standard Time and five hours behind Eastern Standard Time.
• There are four counties in Hawaii (Kauai; city and county of Honolulu; Maui; and Hawaii). Each city has a mayor and council in charge.
• All subterranean minerals belong to the state. Except for state-owned water, some lava stone, and minor granites and semi-precious minerals, there are few underground minerals.
• The wind blows east to west in Hawaii. The highest recorded temperature is 96° F (Honolulu Airport), but temperatures over 92° F generally occur only once or twice a year. The lowest temperature (under 3,000 feet altitude) is 56° F. Temperatures under 60° F may occur but rarely more than once a year. Average daytime temperature (July) is 82° F. Average daytime temperature in January is 72° F.
• There are no racial or ethnic majorities in Hawaii. Everyone is a minority. Caucasians (Haoles) constitute about 34%; Japanese-Americans about 32%; Filipino-Americans about 16%, and Chinese-Americans about 5%. It is very difficult to determine racial identification as most of the population has some mixture of ethnicities.

And more random facts:

Flower — Hibiscus

Bird — Hawaiian Goose (nene)

Song — “Hawaii Ponoi”

Tree — Candlenut (kukui)