Did you know…….

• Hawaii is the name of the island as well as the state. To reduce confusion, the Island of Hawaii is referred to as the “Big Island”.
• Big Island is the youngest of the Hawaiian Islands, at just over one million years old.
• The closest continent is more than 2,500 miles away, making the Hawaiian Islands the most isolated spot in the world.
• Big Island is 4,028 square miles (10,473 square km) and still growing. It has 266 miles (428 km) of shoreline, is 95 miles long, and 80 miles wide. (Prior to 2018 eruption)
• World’s tallest mountain is Mauna Kea; its height from the ocean floor measures 33,476 feet (10,203 m) and it is 13,796 feet (4,205 m) above sea level.
• Big Island has the world’s biggest telescope and has more scientific observatories in one place than anywhere else in the world.
• Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is the only live volcano flowing in the U.S.
• Population of Big Island is estimated over 200,000
  (According to 2017 US Census Bureau).
• Transportation – Rental cars available at both Kona and Hilo airports and some hotels. The public bus is Hele-On and travels around the entire island for $2.00.
• Big Island is the most ecologically diverse of all the islands, with natural environments ranging from the desert plains of Ka‘u to the rain forests above Hilo, to snowcapped Mauna Kea. There are said to be 13 climatic regions on earth and the Big Island has all but two, the Arctic and the Sahara.
• Parker Ranch is one of the largest privately held ranches in the United States.
• Big Island is the Golf Capital of Hawaii with 20 golf courses and several more scheduled for completion.
• Ka Lae (South Point) is the southernmost point in the United States.
• Kona is home to the Ironman World Championship every October.
• Big Island is the only place in the United States where vanilla beans and cocoa beans are grown.
• Red Lehua Ohia is Big Island’s Flower.
• Time Zone – Hawaii Standard Time, HST.  GMT-10 hours.  2 hours behind PST, 3 hours during Daylight Savings Time. Hawaii does not observe Daylight Savings.
• Clothing – CASUAL! NO SUITS or TIES! Hawaiian shirts and slippers (flip flops) are the norm.  “Resort wear” for fine dining. Layers and jackets/warm clothing needed for Volcano, Waimea and visits to Mauna Kea.
• Currency – U.S. dollar. This place feels like another country, but it is the 50th State!
• Language – The only state with TWO official languages – Hawaiian and English.
• Area Code – 808 for all land and cell phones.