Personal Challenge 2018 - Week 50

Let me begin today's blog post by saying that I hope you have thoroughly enjoyed my personal 50-week challenge of 2018. It has been an awesome experience for me. I already have a plan for a new personal 50-week challenge in 2019, that I hope will be just as enjoyable... so be sure to check back in January to see what that's all about. 

This is the 50th (and final) week of my personal 50-week States of the Union Challenge. Each week I research one of the 50 United States (in the order they attained statehood). I share tidbits of information about the state here on my blog and I create a card that is inspired by something about that state.

This week's state (the 50th one to attain statehood) is...

Hawaii

Date of Statehood: August 21, 1959

It might interest you to know that this is the only one of the 50 states that i have not been to yet. If all goes as expected, I'll be heading to Hawaii in October of 2019.

More than 2,000 miles away from any other place, Hawaii is the most isolated island chain on Earth, so it’s no wonder our unique flora, fauna, and frankly, grocery prices, tend to amaze people.

Hawaii is 2,390 miles from California; 3,850 miles from Japan; 4,900 miles from China; and 5,280 miles from the Philippines.

When people think of Hawaii, their minds automatically go to Waikiki (“Is that the capital?” people sometimes painfully ask), or maybe Maui. In Hawaii, there are eight major islands: Oahu, Maui, Hawaii Island (also known as Big Island), Kauai, Lanai, Molokai, Niihau, and Kahoolawe. (Locals jokingly call their favorite vacation destination of Las Vegas the “ninth island”). In total, Hawaii is comprised of 137 islands including the major eight, islets, atolls, and reefs.

From east to west Hawaii is the widest state in the United States.

Hawaii has no smog, not much fog, but we do have vog. Vog is the volcanic haze from the Kilauea volcano that has been actively erupting since 1983 on the Big Island (aka Island of Hawaii). The vog occasionally blows to other islands. It is not dangerous, although heavy vog can be uncomfortable for people with asthma or respiratory issues. On Maui, voggy skies make for beautiful sunsets and moonrises, magnifying the sun and moon and making them look huge and orange.

Surfing was invented in Hawaii.

It’s a tradition in Hawaii to share nature’s bounty. When someone has a backyard tree that produces “too much” fruit, they take a box to work, drop some off for neighbors, or give it away to others who will enjoy it. No waste. 

One of the FRIENDLY facts about Hawaii: They hug! They hug hello. They hug goodbye. They hug “I love you” and “I’m sorry” and “Nice to meet you” and “Thank you.” They just love to hug! So don’t be shocked if a local gives you a hug instead of a handshake.

Key West claims the southernmost part of the continental US, but South Point on Hawaii Island, with its green sand beach and giant cliffs spilling into the Pacific, is the southernmost point of the entire United States.

Hawaii's landmass is not finite: Hawaii continues to grow. The Hawaiian Islands are formed due to being situated atop a geothermal “hot spot” deep under the ocean’s surface. Hawaii Island is home to Kilauea, the world’s most active volcano, which is continuously erupting. The lava that spurts up hits sea level and creates new landmass, meaning there is more Hawaii being made every day.

Much to the joy of residents and tourists alike, all beaches (with the exception of a few government-use beaches) are public access in Hawaii. Residents or businesses who attempt to obstruct public access to beaches can face hefty fines.

Niihau, Hawaii’s seventh largest inhabited island, is home to only 130 residents with no automobiles and no paved roads.

Hawaii is the only U.S. state with two official languages. English and Hawaiian. For non-native speakers and tourists, Hawaiian names can be a challenge. The reason why might be because the Hawaiian alphabet only contains 12 letters (plus an ʿokina and kahakō, which are symbols that change the sound of a word). Because so few consonants make up the Hawaiian language, words like Humuhumunukunukuapuaʿa (Hawaii’s state fish) can be challenging to pronounce, but with some practice, words become easy and fun to say.

Hawaii has its own time zone known as Hawaiian Standard Time.Hawaii has no daylight savings time. The time runs two hours behind Pacific Standard Time and five hours behind Eastern Standard Time.

Honolulu is the United State’s 11th largest metropolitan area.

Hawaii has the highest life expectancy in the U.S. At 82.4 years, it is 3.7 years higher than the national average.

Each ethnicity making up Hawaii’s population is a minority, as Hawaii is a giant melting pot of different cultures.

The highest recorded temperature is 96′ F (at Honolulu Airport), but temperatures over 92′ F generally occur only once or twice a year. The lowest temperature is 56′ F. Temperatures under 60′ F may occur, but rarely more than once a year.

You can mail a coconut from Hawaii. And I really do mean JUST the coconut. Not wrapped. Not boxed. Just a big ol’ coconut with an address on it. 

Most of the world’s macadamia nuts are grown on Hawaii’s Big Island.

More than one-third of the world’s commercial supply of pineapples comes from Hawaii.

Hawaii has worked hard to keep snakes out of the state in order to protect native birds and other species. Those found smuggling snakes into the state can face three years in jail and fines upwards of $200,000.

The first of four states to ban billboards (ahead of Alaska, Maine, and Vermont), Hawaii enjoys wide open spaces free from billboards so that our residents can enjoy distraction-free, scenic driving.

Hawaii doesn’t have casinos, nor does it allow for gambling onboard a ship, or anyplace gambling activities can take place. Hawaii doesn’t have the lottery either.

Kauai has a "Coconut Tree Ordinance" that prohibits buildings taller than four stories (roughly the height of a mature coconut palm). The two exceptions are the Kauai Marriott that was built before the ordinance and the 11-story St. Regis Princeville Resort which is built down the side of a cliff.

Hawaii is rabies-free and there are extremely strict quarantine laws to keep it that way. As a result, it is not easy to bring your pet dog or cat to Hawaii for a brief stay. It requires either months of preparation and certifications, or months of quarantine here once they arrive.

Hawaii residents can be fined for not owning a boat. As a resident of Hawaii, a boat certainly seems like a good investment. An investment so important, apparently, that someone somewhere decided to make it a requirement.

It is illegal to have more than one alcoholic drink in front of you at once.

In Hawaii it is against the law to put coins in your ears.

No person may keep more than 15 cats and dogs in a home.

You could go to jail if you’re in possession of a shark fin.

In Hawaii, you might be fined for riding in the back seat of a vehicle with no seat belt, however, if all seats are already occupied, you can ride in the bed of a pickup truck – with no safety equipment – without being punished.

By law, twins are not permitted to work for the same company in Hawaii.

I decided to go with this bit of Hawaii information for my card's inspiration... The only coffee you can drink that is grown in the United States is from Hawaii. Hawaii Island grows a majority of coffee, with the Kona district growing the bulk of it. Coffee does well in Hawaii’s warm, tropical climate, high elevations, and rich soil. Kona coffee has earned a reputation of being exceptionally aromatic and tasty, making it one of the most expensive coffees in the world.

This series is now complete. I'll start my new 50-Day Challenge the first week of January.

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Stamp Set: Stamp Anniething Gracie How You Bean stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink and colored with Copic Markers

Papers: Recollections Black and 110# White and SU Confetti Tan CS and DP from my scrap file

Embellishments: Paper Studio Brads (and there's Washi Tape from an unknown vendor on the inside of the card)