July 5 – National Hawaii Day

National Hawaii Day is today!

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HOW TO CELEBRATE NATIONAL HAWAII DAY STEP-BY-STEP

•  Host an amazing luau.
•  Wear a lei today, learn how to make one!  You can also make ribbon leis, or buy them, which are popular for graduation.
•  Learn about hula dancing from IhulaHawaii.
•  Listen to some Hawaiian music (or try Hawaiian Essentials on Apple)
•  Read about the fascinating history of Hawaii.
• If you love the article image, purchase it on these fun products on Zazzle!

FEATURED ITEM FOR NATIONAL HAWAII DAY

The day commemorates the admission of Hawaii as the 50th state of the Union on August 21, 1959. Hawaii is a group of islands located in the Pacific Ocean and is known for its tropical climate, sandy beaches, and active volcanoes. The major industry in Hawaii is tourism, with millions of visitors coming to the islands every year to enjoy the sunny weather and laid-back lifestyle. While National Hawaii Day is not a public holiday, it is a day to celebrate Hawaiian culture and history.

Many people choose to wear Hawaiian shirts or leis, listen to Hawaiian music, or eat Hawaiian food on this day. Others may take the opportunity to visit Hawaii or learn more about its culture. However you choose to celebrate, National Hawaii Day is a day to enjoy the beauty and spirit of the islands.

NATIONAL HAWAII DAY:  A BRIEF HISTORY OF HAWAII STATEHOOD

The journey towards statehood for Hawaii began in the late 1800s when American businesses started investing in the islands. This led to political turmoil, including a coup d’état in 1893, which eventually paved the way for American annexation. However, it wasn’t until 1959 that Hawaii was officially granted statehood by Congress, becoming the 50th state in the country. This historic moment cemented Hawaii as not only a tourism powerhouse, but also a vital part of the nation’s history and identity.

100 WAYS TO CELEBRATE NATIONAL HAWAII DAY

1. Luau Celebration: Host a luau-themed party with Hawaiian music, traditional dances, and tropical decorations.
2. Hawaiian Feast: Prepare a feast featuring authentic Hawaiian dishes like kalua pig, poke, and haupia for dessert.
3. Beach Party: Organize a beach party with games, swimming, and beach volleyball to celebrate the Hawaiian spirit.
4. Hula Dance Contest: Hold a hula dance contest where guests can showcase their skills and compete for prizes.
5. Tropical Cocktail Bar: Set up a tropical cocktail bar with mai tais, piña coladas, and other Hawaiian-inspired drinks.
6. DIY Lei Making: Provide materials for guests to make their own flower leis or kukui nut leis to wear during the party.
7. Hawaiian Movie Night: Screen Hawaiian-themed movies or documentaries outdoors for a relaxing movie night under the stars.
8. Pineapple Tasting Party: Arrange a pineapple tasting party featuring different varieties of this tropical fruit.
9. Surfing Lessons: Hire a surf instructor to give surfing lessons to guests who want to experience the thrill of riding the waves.
10. Tiki Barbecue: Grill Hawaiian-style barbecue dishes like teriyaki chicken and grilled fish while enjoying the company of friends and family.
11. Hawaiian Cultural Workshops: Offer workshops on Hawaiian culture, including lei making, ukulele playing, and hula dancing.
12. Volcano Cake Decorating: Let guests decorate volcano-shaped cakes with lava frosting and tropical-themed toppings.
13. Sunset Sailboat Cruise: Charter a sailboat for a sunset cruise along the coast, complete with Hawaiian music and cocktails.
14. Hawaiian Art Exhibition: Display Hawaiian artwork or host a painting session where guests can create their own island-inspired masterpieces.
15. Tropical Fruit Buffet: Set up a buffet with an assortment of tropical fruits like mangoes, papayas, and lychees for guests to enjoy.
16. Coconut Bowling: Arrange a coconut bowling tournament using coconuts as bowling balls and pineapples as pins.
17. Hawaiian Fashion Show: Have guests dress up in their favorite Hawaiian shirts, dresses, or grass skirts and strut their stuff on the runway.
18. Ukulele Jam Session: Invite musicians to lead a ukulele jam session where guests can sing along to classic Hawaiian tunes.
19. Island Games: Organize island-themed games like limbo contests, coconut relays, and pineapple ring toss for fun and laughter.
20. Hawaiian Cooking Class: Hire a chef to teach guests how to prepare traditional Hawaiian dishes like poi, laulau, and lomi salmon.
21. Paddleboarding Excursion: Plan a paddleboarding adventure along the coastline, exploring hidden coves and scenic vistas.
22. Tropical Plant Exchange: Host a plant exchange where guests can trade tropical plants and learn about Hawaiian flora.
23. Hawaiian Language Lessons: Provide Hawaiian language lessons for guests interested in learning basic phrases and greetings.
24. Fire Dance Performance: Arrange for a fire dance performance to entertain guests with mesmerizing displays of skill and artistry.
25. Sunrise Yoga Session: Start the day with a sunrise yoga session on the beach, embracing the tranquility and beauty of Hawaii’s natural surroundings.
26. Hula Hoop Contest: Host a hula hoop contest where participants showcase their skills and endurance.
27. Ukulele Sing-Along: Organize a ukulele sing-along session where guests can strum along to Hawaiian tunes.
28. Coconut Relay Race: Set up a relay race where participants pass coconuts between teammates using various challenges.
29. Pineapple Bowling: Arrange a pineapple bowling game using pineapples as pins and a coconut or ball as the bowling ball.
30. Surfboard Limbo: Use surfboards as limbo poles and challenge guests to limbo underneath without touching the board.
31. Tropical Scavenger Hunt: Create a scavenger hunt with Hawaiian-themed clues and hidden treasures for participants to find.
32. Poi Pounding Challenge: Hold a poi pounding competition where contestants grind taro root to make traditional poi.
33. Tiki Toss Game: Set up a tiki toss game where players try to hook rings onto tiki targets.
34. Island Treasure Hunt: Hide small treasures around the party area and provide maps for guests to find them.
35. Paddleboard Race: Host a paddleboard race in a nearby body of water, with prizes for the fastest paddlers.
36. Luau Limbo: Play limbo with a Hawaiian twist, using a tiki torch or a bamboo pole as the limbo stick.
37. Sandcastle Building Contest: Hold a sandcastle building contest on the beach, with judges awarding prizes for creativity and design.
38. Hawaiian Word Bingo: Play bingo using Hawaiian words or phrases instead of numbers.
39. Shark Attack Freeze Tag: Play a game of freeze tag where one person is designated as the “shark” and tries to tag the other players.
40. Coconut Shell Relay: Have participants race while balancing a coconut shell on their head or carrying it between their knees.
41. Pineapple Ring Toss: Set up a pineapple ring toss game with pineapple slices and rings made from rope or plastic.
42. Tropical Musical Chairs: Play musical chairs with Hawaiian music and tropical-themed decorations.
43. Ukulele Talent Show: Host a talent show where participants showcase their ukulele skills and perform Hawaiian songs.
44. Shaka Simon Says: Play a game of Simon Says using Hawaiian hand gestures like the shaka sign.
45. Beach Volleyball Tournament: Organize a beach volleyball tournament with teams competing for the title of champions.
46. Hawaiian-themed Charades: Act out Hawaiian-themed words or phrases for others to guess in a game of charades.
47. Tropical Relay Races: Plan relay races with Hawaiian-inspired challenges like carrying coconuts or navigating through a “jungle” obstacle course.
48. Palm Frond Frisbee: Use palm fronds as makeshift frisbees and play a game of frisbee on the beach.
49. Ukulele Karaoke: Set up a karaoke station with ukulele accompaniment for guests to sing their favorite Hawaiian songs.
50. Hawaiian Alphabet Game: Challenge guests to come up with Hawaiian words for each letter of the alphabet in a timed game.
51.  Poke Bowls: Prepare traditional Hawaiian poke bowls with fresh fish, rice, and flavorful toppings.
52. Kalua Pork: Slow-cook pork in an underground oven or slow cooker until tender and flavorful.
53. Lomi Lomi Salmon: Make a refreshing Hawaiian dish with diced salmon, tomatoes, onions, and seasonings.
54. Huli Huli Chicken: Grill chicken marinated in a sweet and tangy sauce, a Hawaiian barbecue favorite.
55. Spam Musubi: Create sushi-like snacks by layering cooked Spam on top of rice and wrapping them in seaweed.
56. Haupia: Whip up a coconut milk-based pudding for a sweet and creamy dessert.
57. Loco Moco: Serve a hearty dish with rice, a hamburger patty, fried egg, and gravy for a classic Hawaiian comfort food.
58. Malasadas: Fry up Portuguese-style doughnuts coated in sugar for a delightful treat.
59. Plate Lunch: Offer a plate lunch with a main dish like teriyaki chicken or beef, served with rice and macaroni salad.
60. Manapua: Make savory buns filled with barbecue pork or other tasty fillings.
61. Laulau: Steam pork, fish, or chicken wrapped in taro leaves for a traditional Hawaiian dish.
62. Hawaiian Shave Ice: Serve refreshing shaved ice topped with flavored syrups for a cool and sweet dessert.
63. Poi: Prepare a traditional Hawaiian staple made from mashed taro root, often served as a side dish.
64. Saimin: Cook up a comforting noodle soup with Chinese, Japanese, and Filipino influences.
65. Guava Chicken: Marinate chicken in a tangy guava sauce for a tropical twist on a classic dish.
66. Ahi Tuna Poke Nachos: Create a fusion dish with crispy wonton chips topped with marinated tuna, avocado, and spicy mayo.
67. Chicken Long Rice: Make a comforting soup with chicken, ginger, and bean thread noodles.
68. Hawaiian Sweet Bread French Toast: Use Hawaiian sweet bread to make decadent French toast for breakfast or brunch.
69. Macadamia Nut Crusted Mahi Mahi: Coat mahi mahi fillets with crushed macadamia nuts for a delicious and crunchy seafood dish.
70. Pineapple Fried Rice: Cook rice with pineapple, vegetables, and protein for a flavorful and colorful dish.
71. Lau Lau Salmon: Wrap salmon fillets in luau leaves and steam for a flavorful and tender seafood dish.
72. Coconut Shrimp: Coat shrimp in shredded coconut and fry until golden brown for a crunchy and tropical appetizer.
73. Hawaiian Teriyaki Beef Skewers: Marinate beef skewers in a sweet and savory teriyaki sauce and grill to perfection.
74. Hawaiian Ahi Tuna Salad: Serve fresh ahi tuna on a bed of mixed greens with avocado, mango, and a citrusy dressing.
75. Pineapple Upside-Down Cake: Bake a classic dessert with caramelized pineapple slices and a moist cake base for a sweet ending to the meal.
76. Lei Making: Create flower or kukui nut leis using string and colorful flowers or nuts.
77. Tropical Paper Flowers: Craft vibrant paper flowers to adorn tables or make leis with.
78. Hawaiian Quilting: Try your hand at traditional Hawaiian quilting patterns to make decorative textiles.
79. Seashell Jewelry: Design necklaces or bracelets using seashells collected from the beach.
80. Tiki Mask Painting: Paint wooden tiki masks with colorful designs inspired by Hawaiian culture.
81. Pineapple Print Tote Bag: Stamp tote bags with pineapple prints using fabric paint and a carved potato or stamp.
82. Tropical Dreamcatchers: Make dreamcatchers with tropical-themed elements like seashells, feathers, and beads.
83. Hawaiian Instrument Crafts: Construct mini ukuleles or drums using cardboard and string for decorative purposes.
84. Hula Skirt Crafting: Create hula skirts using colorful strips of fabric or plastic tablecloths.
85. Tropical Lanterns: Decorate mason jars with tissue paper and glue to make lanterns for outdoor gatherings.
86. Hawaiian Fabric Wall Hangings: Use vibrant Hawaiian print fabrics to create beautiful wall hangings or tapestries.
87. Volcano Dioramas: Construct miniature volcano dioramas using clay, paint, and foliage.
88. Beach-themed Terrariums: Build terrariums with sand, shells, and small plants to mimic beach scenes.
89. Tropical Bird Feeders: Make bird feeders using pinecones covered in peanut butter and birdseed, then hang them outside.
90. Hawaiian-Inspired Bracelets: Create beaded bracelets with colors and patterns reminiscent of Hawaiian landscapes.
91. Palm Leaf Art: Use dried palm leaves to make intricate woven wall art or decorative fans.
92. Tropical Fruit Stamp Painting: Cut fruits like pineapples or oranges in half and use them as stamps with paint on paper.
93. Hawaiian Tapa Cloth Art: Design art pieces inspired by traditional Hawaiian tapa cloth using fabric and paint.
94. Sunset Silhouette Painting: Paint sunset silhouettes with palm trees and ocean waves on canvas or paper.
95. Hawaiian-Inspired Dream Journals: Decorate notebooks or journals with Hawaiian motifs and use them as dream journals.
96. Pineapple Piñata: Create a pineapple-shaped piñata using cardboard and tissue paper for a fun party decoration.
97. Surfboard Key Holder: Repurpose a small wooden board into a surfboard-shaped key holder with hooks.
98. Hawaiian Flower Crowns: Craft flower crowns using silk flowers or real flowers for a tropical accessory.
99. Tropical Fish Mobiles: Make colorful fish mobiles using paper or felt to hang indoors or outdoors.
100. Hawaiian Word Art: Create word art pieces with Hawaiian phrases or words using calligraphy or lettering techniques.

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Do you have any ideas about how to celebrate National Hawaii Day?  Please share them!