History:

Did you know …In 1898 Hawaii became a U.S. territory. It was named the 50th state in 1959. The first people to arrive at the Hawaiian Islands were the Polynesians. They travelled to Hawaii by canoe around 500 AD. These original peoples farmed the land and fished for food. Each settlement was ruled by a chief called the ali'i. There were many strict rules called "kapu" that the people lived by and the chief's word was law. LEARN MORE: HERE, HERE, & HERE.

Agriculture and Industry:

Did you know …In the mid-1800s, the main industry in Hawaii was farming sugarcane. Many people moved to Hawaii from places like China and Japan to work the sugarcane fields. Many businesses from the United States became involved in the sugarcane industry and soon the Kingdom of Hawaii and the United States had established close ties and trade treaties. Today, Hawaii’s Key Industries are: pineapples, macadamia nuts, bananas, and coffee. LEARN MORE: HERE, HERE, & HERE.

State Bird and State Flower

Did you know …The official State Bird of Hawaii is Nene the Hawaiian Goose.  The nene, or Hawaiian goose (Branta sandwicensis) was designated the official state bird of Hawaii in 1957. LEARN MORE.

The official State Flower of Hawaii is the Yellow Hibiscus. Hawaii designated the yellow hibiscus (Hibiscus brackenridgei), also known as Pua Aloalo or Ma`o-hau-hele, as the official state flower in 1988. LEARN MORE.

Honolulu, HI

Did you know …Honolulu (/ˌhɒnəˈluːluː/ or /ˌhoʊnoʊˈluːluː/; Hawaiian pronunciation: [honoˈlulu]) is the capital and largest city of the U.S. state of Hawaii. It is an unincorporated part of and the county seat of the City and County of Honolulu on the island of Oahu. The city is the main gateway to Hawaii and a major portal into the United States. The city is also a major hub for international business, military defense, as well as famously being host to a diverse variety of east-west and Pacific culture, cuisine, and traditions. LEARN MORE: HERE & HERE.

Fun Facts

Did you know …Hawaii is also called the Aloha State.  Hawaii is nicknamed the Aloha State because “Aloha” is the Hawaiian way to say hello and goodbye. On the Hawaiian Island of Oahu is where Pearl Harbor is located. Some famous Hawaiians include: Don Ho – Singer, Bette Midler - Singer and actress, Barack Obama - The 44th President of the United States, Kyla Ross – Gymnast, Nicole Scherzinger – Singer, Manti Te'o - Professional football player, Michelle Wie - Professional golfer, Bruno Mars- singer, Jack Johnson- singer, Lauren Graham- actress, and Jason Momoa- actor. LEARN MORE: HERE, HERE, & HERE.

HERE is a quick historic video on Pearl Harbor.

Checkout this YOUTUBE VIDEO on Hawaii!

Did you know that Hawaii is the only significant commercial producer of bananas in the United States?

Here are some banana jokes to make you giggle:

Why did the banana go to the doctor?

Because he wasn’t peeling well.

Why do bananas use sunblock?

Because otherwise they’d peel.

What happens when a boy banana and girl banana break up?

A banana split

What kind of school do bananas go to?

Sundae school

What is a sheep’s favorite fruit?

A baaaa-nana

Why do bananas never get lonely?

Because they hangout in bunches

What is the key to opening a banana?

A mon-key

Why couldn’t the police catch the banana?

Because he split!

What was Beethoven’s favorite fruit?

Ba-na-na-naaaaa

Here are some Hawaiian themed read alouds...

"Froggy Goes to Hawaii"

by Janathan London

"Bats at the Beach"

by Brian Lies

"Rainbow Fish"

by Marcus Pfister

Hawaii has no official state foods, but it does have an edible state plant: the Kalo plant, also known as taro, which was important to the people of Hawaii. If Hawaii were to name an official food, the obvious choice would be Spam, which is so beloved there that it’s known as “Hawaiian steak.” One of Hawaii’s iconic foods made with the “Hawaiian Steak” is Spam Musabi.  Here is a recipe, as well as a video on making this popular Hawaiian dish.

Ingredients

• 2 cups uncooked short-grain white rice
• 2 cups water
• 6 tablespoons rice vinegar
• ¼ cup soy sauce
• 1.4 cup oyster sauce
• ½ cup white sugar
• 1 (12 ounce) container fully cooked Spam
• 5 sheets sushi nori (dry seaweed)
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil

Directions

1. Soak uncooked rice for 4 hours; drain and rinse.
2.  In a saucepan bring 2 cups water to a boil. Add rice and stir. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 20 minutes. Stir in rice vinegar, and set aside to cool.
3. In a separate bowl, stir together soy sauce, oyster sauce, and sugar until sugar is completely dissolved. Slice luncheon meat lengthwise into 10 slices, or to desired thickness, and marinate in sauce for 5 minutes.
4. In a large skillet, heat oil over medium high heat. Cook slices for 2 minutes per side, or until lightly browned. Cut nori sheets in half and lay on a flat work surface. Place a rice press in the center of the sheet, and press rice tightly inside. Top with a slice of luncheon meat, and remove press. Wrap nori around rice mold, sealing edges with a small amount of water. (Rice may also be formed by hand in the shape of the meat slices, 1 inch thick.) Musubi may be served warm or chilled.

Here’s a VIDEO on How to make Spam Musabi

Here;s a link to  "14 Iconic Foods in Hawaii That Will Have Your Mouth Watering"