Hawaii Information and Facts

Official Website: http://www.state.hi.us/

Income

The population of Hawaii in 2002 was 1,240,663. Its rank was 42nd in the nation. (The District of Columbia is included for ranking purposes.)

Per Capita Personal Income

In 2002 Hawaii had a per capita personal income of $29,875. This per capita personal income ranked 21st in the United States and was 97 percent of the national average, $30,906. The 2002 per capita personal income reflected an increase of 4.1 percent from 2001. The 2001-2002 national change was 1.2 percent. In 1992 the per capita personal income of Hawaii was $24,089 and ranked 7th in the United States. The 1992-2002 average annual growth rate of per capita personal income was 2.2 percent. The average annual growth rate for the nation was 4.0 percent.

Total Personal Income

In 2002 Hawaii had a total personal income of $37,064,363. This total personal income ranked 40th in the United States. In 1992 the total personal income of Hawaii was $27,909,660 and ranked 38th in the United States. The 2002 total personal income reflected an increase of 5.5 percent from 2001. The 2001-2002 national change was 2.3 percent. The 1992-2002 average annual growth rate of total personal income was 2.9 percent. The average annual growth rate for the nation was 5.2 percent.

Components of Personal Income

Total personal income includes net earnings by place of residence; dividends, interest, and rent; and total personal current transfer receipts received by the residents of Hawaii. In 2002 net earnings accounted for 69.7 percent of total personal income (compared with 72.8 in 1992); dividends, interest, and rent were 17.6 percent (compared with 16.2 in 1992); and personal current transfer receipts were 12.7 percent (compared with 11.0 in 1992). From 2001 to 2002 net earnings increased 5.9 percent; dividends, interest, and rent increased 1.7 percent; and personal current transfer receipts increased 8.8 percent. From 1992 to 2002 net earnings increased on average 2.4 percent each year; dividends, interest, and rent increased on average 3.7 percent; and personal current transfer receipts increased on average 4.4 percent.

Employment Earnings

Earnings of persons employed in Hawaii increased from $27,163,528 in 2001 to $28,788,078 in 2002, an increase of 6.0 percent. The 2001-2002 national change was 1.5 percent. The average annual growth rate from the 1992 estimate of $22,750,073 to the 2002 estimate was 2.4 percent. The average annual growth rate for the nation was 5.3 percent.

Area - The State of Hawaii is made up of an island chain that extends for about 2600 km (about 1600 mi) between the island of Hawaii in the southeast and Kure Island in the northwest. The state has a total area of 16,729 sq km (6459 sq mi), including 93 sq km (36 sq mi) of inland water. It is the fourth smallest state. The mean elevation is about 920 m (about 3030 ft). Nearly all of the state's total area is accounted for by eight main islands, which are from east to west Hawaii, Maui, Kahoolawe, Lanai, Molokai, Oahu, Kauai, and Niihau. Northwestward from the main islands extends a long string of islets, coral reefs, and shoals. The largest of these is Laysan, which covers only about 1000 acres. These landforms are either uninhabited or are sparsely populated by people staffing government facilities. The state of Hawaii is not coextensive with the geographical unit called the Hawaiian Islands, or Hawaiian Chain. The inhabited Midway Islands, in the northwest, are not part of the state but are administered by the U.S. government. The atoll of Palmyra, an island southwest of the main islands, was part of the Territory of Hawaii but was specifically excluded from the state when statehood was achieved in 1959. It remains a U.S. territory.

Climate - The eight main islands of Hawaii, which lie just south of the tropic of Cancer, have a tropical climate that is determined by their latitude and oceanic setting and by the influence of the prevailing northeast trade winds. Average temperatures range between 22° and 26° C (72° and 79° F) throughout the year at low elevations. Lowland temperatures vary only a few degrees from month to month and rarely more than 6° C (10° F) from day to day. Extreme temperatures rarely occur. Daytime temperatures hardly ever rise above 35° C (95° F), and temperatures below freezing are practically unknown at elevations of less than 1200 m (4000 ft). Weather conditions above about 2500 m (about 8200 ft) can be quite severe, especially during the winter months. Traditional Hawaiian seasons may be generally classified into two periods. Kau, or the summer period, normally lasts from mid-April until mid-October; ho'oilo, or the winter season, usually lasts from mid-October to mid-April. Although mild by the standards of temperate areas, the winter season is characterized by slightly lower temperatures than those that occur during the summer, and by frontal or cyclonic storms that can bring strong northerly winds and much rainfall to some areas of the islands. Trade winds from the northeast sweep across the islands nearly all of the time during summer and about one-half of the time during the winter. However, the mountains tend to block their passage. As they flow up the mountain slopes, the winds precipitate their moisture as rainfall. Descending the other side, subsequently, they are quite dry. On Hawaii and Maui the winds tend to flow around, rather than over, the high mountain masses. Consequently, the higher slopes of Mauna Loa, Mauna Kea, and Haleakala generally have less rain than the lower slopes. In Hawaii the mountain slopes that face northward and eastward receive the full force of the rain-bearing trade winds and are referred to as the windward side. The drier slopes facing southward and westward are referred to as the leeward side. When the trade winds fail, as they often do for short periods during the winter months, the islands may come under the influence of a south or southwest wind, which sometimes brings rain to the leeward side of the islands. These kona winds generally bring uncomfortably warm and muggy weather. Rainfall varies greatly from place to place and from month to month. In general, the wettest months are November to April. Rainfall is heaviest on the windward side of the islands and lightest on the leeward side. For example, the windward side of Waialeale peak, on Kauai, receives about 11,680 mm (about 460 in) of rain a year and is one of the wettest spots in the world. However, only a relatively short distance to the southwest, on the side of the mountain, annual rainfall averages only 510 mm (20 in). Snow frequently covers the upper flanks of Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea in winter, and some snow may linger on their summits through the summer months.

State Flag

State Flower - Hibiscus or Pua Aloalo

State Capitol - Honolulu
Hawaii's state constitution was drafted by a convention held in Honolulu in 1950. It was approved by the voters in the same year and went into effect when Hawaii became a state in 1959. Amendments to the constitution may be proposed by a constitutional convention or by the state legislature. To become law, all proposed amendments must be approved by a popular majority constituting at least 35 percent of the total number of registered voters in Hawaii.

Famous People

Amos S. Cooke missionary, educator
Chad Rowan Yokozuna sumo wrestler
Charles R. Bishop banker, philanthropist
Claus Spreckels developer
Don Ho entertainer
Don Stroud actor
Duke Paoa Kahanamoku Olympic swimmer
Ellison Onizuka astronaut
Father Damien leper-colony worker
George Ariyoshi first Japanese-American elected governor
George Parsons Lathrop journalist, poet
Gerrit P. Judd advisor
Harold Sakata actor
Hiram Bingham missionary, Honolulu
Hiram L. Fong first Chinese-American senator
James Shigeta actor
Jean Erdman dancer, choreographer
Kaahumanu Hawaiian queen
Kamehameha I first Hawaiian king
Kamehameha V last of the dynasty
Kawaipuna Prejean Hawaiian activist
Liliuokalani queen, last Hawaiian monarch
Merlin Tuttle mammalogist, Honolulu
Salevaa Atisanoe (Konishiki) sumo wrestler
Samuel N. Castle missionary
Sanford B. Dole territorial governor, Honolulu
Tia Carrere singer, actress