Historical Note:

"St. Valentine's Day Massacre" . . .

In January 1778 when Captain James Cook landed on the shores of what is now Kauai he was greeted warmly by the natives. However, when he returned a year later, on February 14, 1779, he was clubbed, stabbed, and stripped of his flesh. Why? Because of a pair of thongs. It seems on this trip a pair of thongs were stolen from the ship's armory, so the Captain went ashore to recover the "booty." Cook took the Hawaiian king hostage, and the natives rioted. Cook was apprehended and summarily killed.

Name Origin: Hawaiian. ("Homeland")

Capital: Honolulu

Population: 1,179,000

Area: 6,471 square miles

Statehood: August 21, 1959 (50th)

Nickname: The Aloha State

Motto: The life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness

Famous For: Pineapples, Sugar, Coral Reefs, Exotic Flowers, Exotic Birds, Diamond Head, Beaches, Surfing, Snorkeling, Volcanoes, Pearl Harbor.