No matter how much we learn about Maui or the State of Hawai’i, there is always something new and exciting just around the bend. 

We searched for some unusual facts and information and found out SO MANY things we never knew about this rare and unique island chain. The hardest thing we had to do was to narrow it down to only 11 facts to share with you. 

My tendency is to share helpful information. Don’t get me wrong, I love Trivia. And, I love fun facts that are interesting but not useful. So, we will give you a small Hawaiian mixed plate with a little bit of everything! 

The First 3: Useful Things you may not know:

  • The Maui Gold Brand of pineapple contains three times the amount of vitamin C as other brands of pineapple. It is specially grown and takes approximately 18 months to reach ripeness. You can tour the only working pineapple plantation in the country with Maui Pineapple Tours. And a locally sourced distillery right next door!
    • Pineapple is a fruit of many berries growing together.
    • Pineapples were good for long boat rides since, like some citrus, they prevented scurvy.
    • Pineapples were in Hawai’i more than 2 centuries before Captain James Cook, 
    • It is unknown exactly where they originated from, but they are thought to have come from the Spanish explorers who came here in the 1500s.
  • By law, and upheld by the State of Hawai’i Supreme Court in 1968, no one can own a beach on Maui or has the right to keep people off of it, including “exclusive” beach resorts. If you can get to the beach, it’s your right to be there. 
    • This means there are NO private beaches, except Federal Government-owned land.
    • One of the primary reasons for this law is to keep the ocean accessible for native Hawaiians to practice their traditions and lifestyle, which includes ocean access.
    • It is still always essential to respect the land and the people when we venture into areas that are not easily accessible.
  • There are 81 accessible beaches on Maui, including white, gold, black, and red sand. Maui has 120 miles of accessible beach, more than any other Hawaiian island.

The Next 6: Fun, Mostly Unknown Facts

  • The island of Maui has 10 state parks, 94 county parks and community centers, and 1 national park. Thank you, mother nature, for your generosity and abundance! 
    • You can camp in about 15 of them, but permits are needed.
  • Maui has no highway billboards. Other than traffic and safety signs, you have an unrestricted view of the natural landscape around you. Hawai’i is one of only four states to ban billboards. The other three are Vermont, Maine, and Alaska.
    • Walls and fences cannot be more than 7 feet high.
    • Buildings are not as straightforward, and the county is working on putting some regulations in place. This is an ongoing challenge for the County Council vs. Land Developers. 
  • Founded in 1831, Maui’s Lahainaluna High School is the oldest school west of the Rocky Mountains and owned the first printing press in the western United States.
  • Haleakala reaches 10,023 feet and is the largest dormant volcano in the world. The summit valley is 21 miles across and 2,600 feet deep, big enough to hold the entire island of Manhattan.
  • The Haleakala High Altitude Observatory is considered one of the best astronomical and space surveillance sites globally, noted for its excellent viewing conditions and clear skies. It is not open to the public, but occasional public events and talks are available for visitors.
  • Hawai’i is the only U.S. state whose land area is increasing, thanks to volcanic eruptions. The Big Island’s Kilauea, one of the world’s most active volcanoes, has been continuously erupting since 1983. 
    • There is a new island forming to the southeast of the Big Island called Lōʻihi. 
    • Lōʻihi began forming about 400,000 years ago and is already 10,500’/3,500 Meters above the ocean floor and 3,000’/1,000 meters below the ocean’s surface.  

The Last 2: Not-So-Useful, but interesting trivia

  • In Hawai’i and Guam, more spam is eaten per person than anywhere else in the world. Spam musubi, anyone?
  • Hawaii has the highest life expectancy in the United States at 81.5 years, according to the CDC in 2018. Could it be the Spam?
    • Living in a beautiful and unique place where you can be outside most of the year does a body good. The climate and beautiful parks and beaches make getting outside and walking, running, swimming, cycling, etc., almost impossible to ignore!  

Next time you’re sitting down and sharing a delicious, wood-fired Pizza on Maui, you can recall a few of our Interesting Things and Fun Facts and shine as a fountain of knowledge! 

For instance, you can let people know that the pineapple on your Pizza, grown in Upcountry Maui, originally came to Hawai’i via the Spanish Explorers of the 1500s! Or, these pineapples have 3x the amount of Vitamin C as regular pineapples.

Or, perhaps you can ask a Realtor if it’s possible to buy any land yet on the island of Lōʻihi? Most likely, they will just laugh and say, “You may have had too much juice up at the Hāliʻimaile Distillery!” 

And there you have it! A wonderful moment sharing Fun, Useful or Not-So-Useful facts about Maui and Hawai’i and getting a good laugh in the meantime!

Yes, we know, you just cannot believe that all the beaches are Public Domain! It’s true, and you can check our facts when researching your next visit to Maui. Like all of our 11 little-known facts, these are the kind of things that make Hawai’i unique.  

Writing and Graphic Design by Sugandha Ferro Black

 

 

Photos courtesy of Wiki Commons and other paid for or free sources unless otherwise noted.

Lahainaluna School – Public Domain