The Hawaiian Islands are easily the most unique place in America, if not the entire world, and that’s not just because it’s a tropical island chain. In addition to its fascinating, yet tumultuous, history and a unique culture that has been shaped and influenced by a variety of peoples over the course of several centuries, Hawaii is the most isolated population center on earth, and here are nine facts that prove just how isolated our beautiful islands are — from America and the rest of the world. 

1. Just how isolated is Hawaii? Well, the Aloha State is separated from the United States mainland — California, to be specific — by 2,390 miles. That’s approximately a five-hour flight from the Los Angeles International Airport to the Honolulu International Airport.
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2. Do you find yourself asking "what is the closest land to Hawaii?" Well, the next nearest landmass to the Hawaiian Islands is Japan, which is approximately 3,850 miles — or an 8.5-hour flight — away.
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(To pretend you’re in Japan without leaving the islands, visit Byodo-In Temple, a half-size-scale replica of a famous temple in Kyoto, Japan that is more than 950 years old.)
3. Hawaii has its very own time zone — Hawaiian Standard Time — and does not participate in daylight savings time.
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4. While this makes it a pain to transport your pets to and from Hawaii, everyone can be happy about living in a rabies-free state. Due to its isolated location, it’s no surprise that Hawaii is the only state in the country without rabies.
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5. The island chain is 4,900 miles from China and 5,280 miles from the Philippines.
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For reference, the Hawaiian Islands stretch approximately 1,500 miles across the Pacific Ocean.
6. The Hawaiian Islands are home to hundreds of endemic plant and animal species you won’t find anywhere else in the world — like the Hawaiian monk seal and the nene, which is the rarest goose in the world.
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7. You won’t find many out-of-state license plates here. Because newcomers have to register their vehicles within 30 days of arrival, it’s rare to see anything other than Hawaii’s iconic rainbow plates. Hawaii does have interstate highways, though — weird, right?
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8. The only place you’ll find snakes in Hawaii is in a zoo because they are banned from entering the island chain.
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9. Not a single one of America’s largest banks — including Bank of America, Chase, Citi, and Wells Fargo — offers a physical retail location in Hawaii.
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So, do you have a little more perspective on just how remote Hawaii is? Are there any other facts that have made you realize how far Hawaii is from the mainland United States and the rest of the world? We’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments! And, if you are planning a Hawaii vacation, here are the top three things you need to do on each Hawaiian island. 

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Courtnie Erickson | August 08, 2022

What are some incredible day trips I can take from Hawaii?

While you may find yourself wondering “just how remote is Hawaii?” it actually doesn’t matter. There are incredible day trips all around the Hawaiian islands. One of our favorite trips is a visit to Oahu’s famous North Shore. This beautiful area is home to professional surf competitions in the winter months, a gorgeous coastline in the summer, and some of the best small towns in Hawaii. There are also all types of shops, restaurants, and secluded beaches for you to check out on this part of the island as well.

Another delightful day trip on Oahu is the Manoa Valley. Just a short distance from Honolulu is this lush, beautiful, and jaw-dropping valley. This area receives rain almost daily but there is still plenty to see and do even on a rainy day. We recommend walking through the jungle to the inspiring Manoa Falls. Then, head to the Mu Ryang Sa Buddhist Temple.

Is exploring the Pali Highway worth my time?

Yes! The Pali Highway is one of our favorite drives in all of Hawaii. This is a scenic drive through the jungle where you can stop and explore bamboo forests on well-maintained hiking trails. This drive will give you some amazing views of the windward coast and if you have the time, stop at the lookout, where you will have the most incredible photo opportunities. It is truly breathtaking!

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