Welcome to our page of Hawaii trivia questions! Hawaii is a state known for its beautiful landscapes, rich culture, and unique history, making it a fascinating destination for trivia enthusiasts. Our selection of questions covers a wide range of topics including the state's history, culture, geography, and landmarks. Whether you're a native of Hawaii or just a curious learner, our trivia questions will help you discover new and exciting information about this great state.
For those interested in the history of Hawaii, our trivia questions will take you through the state's past, from its early days as a Hawaiian Kingdom to the present. We also cover the state's famous landmarks such as the Mauna Kea, the USS Arizona Memorial and the Polynesian Cultural Center. Culture enthusiasts can learn about the state's rich cultural heritage, traditional customs, and local art forms.
Hawaii's geography and wildlife are also an important part of the state's identity, and our questions cover information about the state's natural wonders like the Waimea Canyon, the Napali Coast and the unique wildlife such as the Hawaiian Monk Seal and the state bird, the Nene.
Our trivia questions are designed to be challenging yet entertaining, making them perfect for individuals, families, or groups of friends. Whether you're looking for a fun way to pass the time or you want to test your knowledge of Hawaii, our trivia questions are sure to provide hours of entertainment.
37 Hawaii Trivia Questions Ranked from Easiest to Hardest (Updated for 2024)
- Duke Kahanamoku, a Native Hawaiian, was an Olympic swimmer for the U.S. national team. But he’s probably best known for popularizing what sport, whose iconic boards were developed from Hawaiian olo?
Answer: Surfing
- A recovered anchor from the USS Arizona is on display at what memorial's visitor center in Hawaii?
Answer: Pearl Harbor
- Daniel Inouye, fighting in the 442nd Infantry Regiment during World War II lost his right arm to a grenade wound. That didn’t stop him from serving over 50 consecutive years as a congressman from what tropical U.S. state whose busiest airport now bears his name?
Answer: Hawaii
- North and South Island, the two main islands of New Zealand, are separated by a strait named for what British explorer, who was the first European to sail through it and was also the first European to make contact with the Hawaiian Islands?
Answer: James Cook (The Cook Strait)
- A pre-cursor to Wi-Fi was an ethernet connection, and a precursor to ethernet was the ALOHAnet, which used a UHF wireless packet network to connect parts of what U.S. state?
Answer: Hawaii
- The remains of what U.S. battleship can be viewed from above the water at the Pearl Harbor National Memorial in Hawaii?
Answer: USS Arizona
- The Kona Coast of Hawaii's Big Island is the only major production area in the U.S. of what crop?
Answer: Coffee
- Two U.S. states do not observe daylight savings time. With one guess, name one of these two states.
Answer: Arizona and Hawaii
- The improbably named Cobra Bubbles is a social worker who used to be a CIA agent in what 2002 Disney animated film set in Hawaii?
Answer: Lilo and Stitch
- What district of Hawaii's "Big Island" is famous for the coffee grown on the slopes of volcanoes like Mauna Loa?
Answer: Kona
- In 1778, Captain James Cook wrote about surfing after observing the religious tradition of wave-riding among men in which state?
Answer: Hawaii
- The koa tree is endemic to what U.S. state? The very sturdy wood from this true is resistant to saltwater and has been used for boat building and surfboards.
Answer: Hawaii
- As odd as it may sound, the Iolani Palace is the only royal palace that’s on U.S. soil. It was the royal residence from 1845 until 1893, when the monarchy was overthrown in what is now what U.S. state?
Answer: Hawaii
- The 'i'iwi, also known as the scarlet honeycreeper, is a recognizable symbol of what U.S. state?
Answer: Hawaii
- Who is the Hawaii-born golfer that announced she was turning professional in 2005 just one week before her sixteenth birthday? As part of turning pro, she signed eight-figure sponsorship contracts with both Nike and Sony.
Answer: Michelle Wie West
- An 1845 building found in what state capital is the only royal palace in what's now the United States?
Answer: Honolulu
- Which state’s official bird is Branta sandvicensis, which is also known simply as the nene?
Answer: Hawaii
- It makes sense with all the surfing: a super simple online database is known by what four-letter Hawaiian word for “speedy”?
Answer: Wiki
- What hybrid form of hobbyist transportation is also known as sidewalk surfing and originated in Hawaii in 1959 as a combination of skateboarding and surfing?
Answer: Longboarding
- A'a and pahoehoe are words from the Hawaiian language used to describe differing types of what naturally occurring substance?
Answer: Lava
- What Hawaiian sugar company built a ditch to send water to its sugar fields in 1907, an engineering marvel that stands to this day?
Answer: Kekaha
- In 1959, Hiram Fong became the first Asian-American U.S. Senator after being elected as one of the first two Senators of what non-mainland state?
Answer: Hawaii
- "Dolphin" or "dolphinfish" are sometimes swapped in on menus for the repetitive eight-letter Hawaiian name of what fish that is very much a fish-fish and not a dolphin?
Answer: Mahi-mahi
- Hawaii and Florida are the only two states that have which type of warm, moist climate?
Answer: Tropical
- Famous English explorer Captain James Cook was killed in 1779 in which modern day US state?
Answer: Hawaii
- Known as "le'ahi," or "brow of the tuna" in Hawaiian, what is the English name of the volcanic cone that is Hawaii's most popular state park?
Answer: Diamond Head
- Colt Brennan, a prolific college quarterback from 2005-2007 with the most 400-yard games in NCAA history, played for what isolated college? It has been a member of the Mountain West conference since 2012.
Answer: University Of Hawaii
- To honor a man who became more famous as the namesake for a popular food, Captain Cook gave what name to the islands now known as Hawaii?
Answer: Sandwich islands
- "Democracy," a novel set in Hawaii and Southeast Asia focusing on the wife of a U.S. senator, was penned by what American writer of "Slouching Towards Bethlehem" and "The Year of Magical Thinking"?
Answer: Joan Didion
- Although most of the world’s supply are grown in Hawaii as a result of its volcanic soil, the Macadamia tree is actually native to which other country?
Answer: Australia
- What Timex watch was introduced at a Hawaii athletic event in 1986 and quickly became the best-selling watch in the United States?
Answer: Ironman
- Peter Gene Hernandez is the real name of what famous pop star who was born in Honolulu, Hawaii on October 8, 1985?
Answer: Bruno Mars
- Although Everest is the tallest mountain from sea level to peak, which mountain is tallest from its beneath sea-level base to its peak? From Hawaiian, the two-word name means "White Mountain."
Answer: Mauna Kea
- What is the only extant species of geese that is not found in continental areas, but only on an island group in the Pacific?
Answer: Nene
- To be labeled a "Kona blend," what is the minimum percentage of coffee beans in a batch that must be grown in Hawaii? We'll give a cushion of 5% on either side.
Answer: 10% (5% - 15% accepted)
- A 7 (in Squamish), a question mark (in Crow), a k (in Malay), and an apostrophe-like shape called an 'okina (in Samoan or Hawaiian) are all ways of writing what consonant sound common to many world languages?
Answer: Glottal stop
- In 2015, which Hawaii-based cargo shipping company acquired Horizon Lines (its major rival) in a $469 million deal?
Answer: Matson
Play Hawaii Trivia with Water Cooler Trivia
Water Cooler Trivia is well-equipped to provide you with exciting and engaging trivia quizzes.
So, how does it work?
Each week, our team will deliver original trivia quizzes straight to your inbox.
All you have to do is pick the categories.
You can leave the rest of the heavy lifting to us.
Take Water Cooler Trivia for a test run with our four-week free trial.
About the Author
Eli Robinson is the Chief Trivia Officer at Water Cooler Trivia. He was once in a Bruce Springsteen cover band called F Street Band.
.png){kind=logo}
.png)