What makes ʻIolani Palace in Honolulu unique in the United States?

It is the only royal palace in the USA

It is the oldest stone building in the USA

It is built inside a volcanic crater

Hawaii Quiz: Islands, Volcanoes and Aloha Spirit of the USA

This Hawaii quiz explores the island state of the USA in the middle of the Pacific, with questions on statehood in 1959, ʻIolani Palace, King Kamehameha I, the Hawaiian alphabet, Mauna Kea, surfing legend Duke Kahanamoku, the state fish, the state flag, the Nā Pali Coast of Kauaʻi and Captain Cook's arrival. Ten questions.

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🎯 Daily Trivia Challenge • 🧠 10 Questions • ⏱️ 90 Seconds

Question 1 / 10 Time: 90s

Statehood
In which year did Hawaii become the 50th state of the USA?
Palaces
What makes ʻIolani Palace in Honolulu unique in the United States?
Kings
Which king united the Hawaiian Islands into one kingdom by 1810?
Language
How many letters does the Hawaiian alphabet have?
Mountains
Measured from its base on the ocean floor, which Hawaiian volcano is the tallest mountain on Earth?
Surfing
Which Olympic swimming champion from Waikīkī helped spread surfing around the world?
Fish
What is the Hawaiian name of Hawaii's state fish, the reef triggerfish?
Flags
Hawaii's state flag includes which other country's flag in its corner?
Coasts
The dramatic Nā Pali Coast, with towering green cliffs, is on which island?
Explorers
Which British explorer was the first known European to reach Hawaii, in 1778?

Explanations: answer key for all 10 questions

Q1: In which year did Hawaii become the 50th state of the USA?
Answer: 1959
Alaska became the 49th state earlier the same year. The United States had annexed Hawaii as a territory in 1898.
Q2: What makes ʻIolani Palace in Honolulu unique in the United States?
Answer: It is the only royal palace in the USA
It was home to Hawaii's last monarchs, King Kalākaua and Queen Liliʻuokalani. It had electric lights before the White House did.
Q3: Which king united the Hawaiian Islands into one kingdom by 1810?
Answer: King Kamehameha I
A famous statue of him stands in front of Aliʻiōlani Hale in Honolulu. Kamehameha Day is celebrated every June 11.
Q4: How many letters does the Hawaiian alphabet have?
Answer: 13
It has five vowels and eight consonants, including the ʻokina, a glottal stop. Hawaiian is an official language of the state along with English.
Q5: Measured from its base on the ocean floor, which Hawaiian volcano is the tallest mountain on Earth?
Answer: Mauna Kea
Mauna Kea is more than 10,000 meters tall from base to summit. Its peak hosts some of the world's most important telescopes.
Q6: Which Olympic swimming champion from Waikīkī helped spread surfing around the world?
Answer: Duke Kahanamoku
Duke won gold medals in 1912 and 1920. He gave surfing demonstrations in Australia and California, and a statue of him stands on Waikīkī Beach.
Q7: What is the Hawaiian name of Hawaii's state fish, the reef triggerfish?
Answer: Humuhumunukunukuāpuaʻa
The name is often translated as triggerfish with a snout like a pig. The fish grunts when it is frightened.
Q8: Hawaii's state flag includes which other country's flag in its corner?
Answer: The United Kingdom
The Union Jack reflects Hawaii's early friendship with Britain. Eight stripes represent the eight main islands.
Q9: The dramatic Nā Pali Coast, with towering green cliffs, is on which island?
Answer: Kauaʻi
The cliffs rise more than 1,000 meters above the sea. They can be reached only by boat, helicopter or the Kalalau Trail.
Q10: Which British explorer was the first known European to reach Hawaii, in 1778?
Answer: James Cook
Cook named them the Sandwich Islands after the Earl of Sandwich. He was killed in a clash at Kealakekua Bay on the Big Island in 1779.

Hawaii Quiz – America's Pacific Paradise

Hawaii is the 50th state of the USA and the only one made up entirely of islands. Lying in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, about 3,800 kilometers from California, it is famous for beaches, volcanoes, rainforests, surfing and the welcoming aloha spirit. Its eight main islands include Hawaiʻi, often called the Big Island, Maui, Oʻahu and Kauaʻi.

Polynesian voyagers settled Hawaii many centuries ago, navigating by the stars. In 1778, British explorer James Cook became the first known European to arrive. King Kamehameha I united the islands into one kingdom by 1810. The monarchy was overthrown in 1893, Hawaii was annexed by the United States in 1898 and it became a state in 1959.

Hawaii's landscapes are dramatic. The islands formed over a hotspot in the Earth's crust, and Kīlauea and Mauna Loa on the Big Island are among the world's most active volcanoes. Mauna Kea is the tallest mountain on Earth from base to summit. Kauaʻi's Nā Pali Coast and Waimea Canyon are breathtaking.

Hawaiian culture remains strong. Hula, music, the Hawaiian language and traditions such as the luau are celebrated. ʻIolani Palace recalls the kingdom, and Pearl Harbor on Oʻahu tells the story of the 1941 attack that brought the US into World War II.

Surfing was born in Hawaii, and Duke Kahanamoku spread it around the world. Local foods include poke, poi, kalua pig and shave ice.

Hawaii's isolation means many of its plants and birds are found nowhere else, but many are endangered. Visitors are asked to respect sacred sites, protect coral reefs and give monk seals and sea turtles plenty of space on the beaches.

This quiz covers the history, geography, culture and traditions of Hawaii.

What This Quiz Teaches

This quiz is perfect for travelers, surfers and lovers of island culture.

When Hawaii became a state
ʻIolani Palace and King Kamehameha I
The Hawaiian alphabet
Mauna Kea and Hawaii's volcanoes
Duke Kahanamoku and surfing
The state fish, the flag, the Nā Pali Coast and Captain Cook

Quick Facts About Hawaii

Hawaii does not observe daylight saving time.
Honolulu, on Oʻahu, is the state capital.
Hawaii's Big Island is still growing thanks to lava flows.
The state has black, green and red sand beaches.
Spam is very popular in Hawaiian cooking.
Barack Obama was born in Honolulu in 1961.