Aspiring trivia champs won't want to pass up this treasure trove of tidbits about the Aloha State. In Fascinating Facts About Hawai'i, author Jim Loomis has tracked down items ranging from obscure minutiae—Did you know that a local amateur baseball team once nearly beat the Los Angeles Dodgers? Did you know that there were two attacks on Pearl Harbor? Did you know the first California-Hawai'i flight made a forced landing at sea?—to everyday factoids—Hawai'i is home to the tallest mountain and wettest spot on Earth. The 'ukulele isn't from Hawai'i. There are more than 120 Hawaiian islands. Charmingly illustrated with colorful drawings by graphic designer Kristin Lipman, this handy compendium will delight visitors and locals alike. The 116-page mix of serious historical and culturally illuminating facts mingled with lighthearted tidbits on food, flora and fauna and Hawai'i's Hollywood connections makes for easy reading at home or on the beach.

Jim Loomis

Softcover, 116 pp.