Researchers say people who play sports have a better ability to filter out noise and static. This ability, researchers say, allows athletes to process information and situations better. The researchers noted these benefits occur only if athletes in contact sports avoid serious brain injuries. You’re in a championship game. The stadium is full of fans cheering and yelling for both teams. The noise rises to a cacophony, yet you can still hear your coach telling you to make a critical adjustment before the next play. That ability to filter out the din and maintain focus may be one of the key benefits of playing sports, suggests a new study from Northwestern University in Illinois. People who play sports have a greater ability to tune out the clamor of life than those of a less athletic persuasion. They may also have a quieter, healthier nervous system as a result, the study concludes. The researchers tested this theory by hooking up two groups of athletes and nonathletes to a device that delivered speech syllables through earbuds. They analyzed the participants’ brain activity relative to the level of background noise during each syllable. Athletes overall had a stronger response to these sounds relative to the background noise. “Think of background electrical noise in the brain like static on the radio,” Nina Kraus, PhD, a senior study author and director of Northwestern’s Auditory Neuroscience Laboratory said in a press release. “There are two ways to hear the DJ better: minimize the static or boost the DJ’s voice. We found that athletes’ brains minimize the background ‘static’ to hear the ‘DJ’ better.” That gels with previous research into the health benefits of regular exercise on brain health. “We think there may be an ‘exercise effect’ on parts of the brain responsible for regulating attention, particularly the prefrontal cortex and dopamine channels,” Danielle Ransom, PsyD, a pediatric neuropsychologist at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital, told Healthline. “The benefits don’t stop with attention. Studies have shown improved overall cognitive and academic performance in kids who play (sports or other physical activities) for 3 or more days per week for at least 20 minutes. There are mood and self-esteem boosting benefits to active play as well as important opportunities for social skill development in team sports.” How athletes’ brains differ One notable result of this experiment was teasing out the differences in this noise filtering between athletes and other populations that are skilled at singling out sounds — such as musicians and people who speak more than one language. While all of these groups’ mental processes reach the same general result, athletes’ brains isolate sounds by filtering out the static, while musicians and multilingual people’s brains succeed by turning up the proverbial volume, Kraus said. What that difference comes down to are the ways in which disparate stimuli train the brain differently. “The brain has a fixed capacity for attention but unlimited potential for how information is processed,” Dr. Shaheen Lakhan, PhD, MEd, MS, FAAN, vice president of research and development at The Learning Corp, makers of the cognitive therapy app Constant Therapy, told Healthline. “While playing sports, athletes are presented with a lot of stimuli and information that needs to be regulated through this attentional matrix, which forces their brain to prioritize what’s being processed and thereby increases their ability to focus.” Ultimately, sports make our brains more plastic, said Dr. Philippe Douyon, neurologist, author, and founder of The Inle BrainFit Institute. “Problems in our neural circuitry can lead to difficulty with attention, but sports are a powerful promoter of neuroplasticity, which is the brain’s ability to form new neurons, connections, and reorganize its neural networks,” he told Healthline. The elephant in the room But if problems in neural circuitry lead to difficulties with attention, that leaves one large elephant in the room regarding the benefits of sports on brain health — namely the effects of brain injury from contact sports. The researchers acknowledge this, citing these benefits “in the absence of injury.” But that’s a rather large caveat when talking about a high contact sport such as football, as opposed to, say, tennis or track and field. “Anyone who engages in physical activity needs to be aware of the specific injuries common in that sport,” Dr. Randall Wright, a neurologist at Houston Methodist Hospital in Texas, told Healthline. “For example, both basketball and football involve cardiovascular exercise, but athletes in these sports experience different types of injuries and at different rates.” So, be especially careful in the case of contact sports. “Contact sports can lead to concussions, which temporarily cause a negative impact on brain health,” said Dr. Vijay Jotwani, a sports medicine physician also with Houston Methodist. “But in the overall world of sports participation, the chances of concussion are very low.” Dr. Bryan Bruno, medical director at Mid City TMS, a New York-based transcranial magnetic stimulation clinic focused on curing depression, agreed.  “If you’re being careful to stay safe, the benefits of sports far outweigh the drawbacks in terms of keeping your body and mind healthy and strong,” he told Healthline. The researchers also noted that these improvements in auditory processing might compensate for head injuries to a certain extent. “Because head injuries can disrupt these same auditory processes, it is important to consider how auditory processing enhancements may offset injury,” the study authors wrote.

Four reasons to take a vacation this summer, according to science. Thinking of taking a vacation this summer? Below are four science-based reasons taking time off will actually benefit you. Life Satisfaction. Taking a holiday can result in many physical and mental health benefits. In fact, some of these benefits have been shown to persist months after we have returned to work. A study of over 3,000 Canadian workers found that taking more paid vacation days was positively associated with both overall health and life satisfaction.  Holidays promote improved work-life balance, decreased time pressure and better mental health. which all contribute to improved life satisfaction. What’s even more encouraging is that t he experiences had while on vacation have long lasting effects, as viewing past experiences in a positive light can affect your current state of happiness. Physical Improvements. One of the most compelling reasons to take a vacation is that they can improve our physical health. A Framingham Heart Study found that vacations actually reduce the risk of heart disease. The study tracked subjects over a nine-year period and found a positive correlation between more frequent vacations and longer, healthier lives. Men who didn’t take a vacation for several years were 30 percent more likely to have heart attacks. Need a reason to get away this summer? The study found that skipping vacation for just one year could increase your risk of heart disease. Mental Health Benefits. Vacations can also improve our mental health by reducing depression and anxiety. Vacations can improve mood and reduce stress by removing people from the activities and environments that they associate with stress and anxiety. A Canadian study of over 800 lawyers found vacations reduced depression and buffered against job stress. Even a short vacation can reduce stress. A small Japanese study found a short, three-day leisure trip reduced perceived levels of stress and reduced levels of the “stress hormone” cortisol. Improve productivity. Finally, studies show taking time off from work can actually make you more productive. No, really. A study conducted by the Boston Consulting Group found that professionals who were required to take time off were significantly more productive than those who spent more time working. In addition, employees report tasks they have to complete as part of their job are less effortful after vacation compared to before vacation. When you’re more productive, you’re happier, and when you’re happier, you’re a better worker. So what are you waiting for? Get out there, unplug and explore

Harry Potter fans, rejoice! Consider this your guide to geeking out at many of the London locations from the books and movies, and where to see HP attractions you can’t find anywhere else. Here are five things every true Harry Potter fan should do during a trip to London. 1. Get Your Picture Taken at Platform 9 ¾ In the Harry Potter universe, students famously depart from Platform 9 ¾, a hidden spot in London’s King’s Cross train station, to begin the journey back to the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. While it’s not actually a live track (in real life), you can still visit the site of Platform 9 ¾ in King’s Cross, a little area set off to the side especially for fans. It’s come a long way over the years. The first time I visited in 2003, the location was marked by a single sign on the wall, and it took some effort to find — it was a little confusing since platforms 1-9 are on one side of the building, platforms 10 and up are on the other, and there’s no obvious middle-ground. Since then, Platform 9 ¾ has grown significantly, and now the huge lines of people queuing up makes the location hard to miss. Have your picture taken as you pretend to push luggage through the wall to the magical platform — the staff there will let you pick out your favorite Hogwarts house scarf (so you can represent Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff or Slytherin) and tell you the best way to pose or jump so it looks like you’re racing through the wall at top speed. The best part: all of this is free — just ask another Potter fan in line to take your photo and take theirs in return. 2. Make a Pilgrimage to Warner Bros. Studio for the Official Set Tour About 24 miles from the city center is the Warner Brothers Studio in Leavesden where the Harry Potter movies were filmed. Take the self-guided Making of Harry Potter tour, where you can see the actual sets, board a replica of the Knight Bus, check out the costumes and props the actors used and view the animatronic creatures featured in the movies. While you’re at it, ride a broomstick in front of a green screen, sip butterbeer (or try butterbeer ice cream!) and pick up a souvenir wand and cloak in the gift shop. 3. See Harry Potter and the Cursed Child On Stage — If You Can The latest addition to the Harry Potter universe is the new stage play, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. Based on JK Rowling’s short story of the same name, this sequel set 19 years after the end of the series follows Harry and his youngest son, who struggles with his complicated family legacy. 4. See Sights from the Books and Movies on a Muggle Walking Tour The 2.5-hour Muggle Walking Tour covers many of the London landmarks mentioned in the books, including Number 12 Grimmauld Place and the Ministry of Magic. You’ll also visit streets and alleys that were the inspiration for many of the series’ locations such as Diagon Alley and Knockturn Alley. The knowledgeable, costumed tour guides also provide insight into some of the historical (non-Harry Potter) sites you’ll pass along the way. 5. Spend the Night in a Hogwarts-Themed Room While it’s not a London points-hotel option, Potterheads may say it’s well worth spending 309 British pounds (~$407) per night for the chance to stay in the Wizard Chambers at the Georgian House, a local, family-run boutique B&B located in London’s city center. Walk down a candlelit passageway and enter your sleeping quarters, hidden behind a bookshelf and filled with gothic castle-like touches such as stained glass windows, cauldrons, trunks, stone walls, tapestries, a wood-burning stove and a fancy four-poster bed draped in velvet. Bottom Line If you’re a Harry Potter fan, London definitely deserves a spot on your travel bucket list, especially since there are attractions here you won’t find anywhere else. Who’s headed to London soon? Are any of these Harry Potter experiences on your list?

Every child at some point begs their parents for a puppy. As a parent, we can’t help but think of all of the added chores and financial obligations that come with owning a pet. But did you know it can actually benefit the health and development of your kids? Thats why, at Hello English School, we have our puppie Rudolph, to collaborate with kids education. In honor of National Kids and Pets Day, we explore the advantages that kids who grow up with dogs have. The list could go on and on, so here are just a few: #1 A Life Lesson in Responsibility Looking for an opportunity to teach your child an important life lesson? Taking care of a living being is different than being responsible for unloading the dishwasher. From walking, bathing, feeding, and picking up after- these are all tasks that your child could do for the household pet. #2 Kids Who Grow Up With Dogs are Healthier Immune system: Recent studies in pediatric health have concluded that children who lived with pets (but especially dogs) during their first year of life actually had a better immune system than those who did not. They believe that exposure to dogs may have positively boosted the maturation of their immune system during infancy. In addition, when they did fall ill, they needed a shorter course of antibiotics compared to the children who did not live with pets. Allergies, respiratory allergies or asthma, are much less likely to develop similar issues if they they have a dog in the house. They found that the early exposure is key. Children who had a dog after the first year of birth had no added health benefits. Skin: Recent studies found that dogs actually protect children who are at risk for eczema. In fact, children with dog allergies, who did not have dogs in the home, were four times more likely to develop eczema than those who did.  #3 Better Emotional Intelligence Everyone has heard of IQ, but have you thought about improving your child’s EQ (or emotional intelligence)? Owning a dog allows them to practice these skills and improves their emotional intelligence over time. Caring for another life will require your child to become a more compassionate individual. Feeding or walking them, at times they may have other things they would rather be doing, will mean that they have to step outside of themselves, and practice being selfless. A teacher who participated in a study about classroom pets said, “Having pets is an INVALUABLE aid for helping the children gain pride, caring, and empathy for the needs of themselves and others”. In addition, caring for a pet builds a child’s self-esteem. Accomplishing small tasks (such as filling up their water dish) will help them feel like they are competent and will also give them a sense of accomplishment. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention found that children with dogs in the home had reduced anxiety levels and reduced amount of perceived stress. They believe that kids who interact with dogs have increased levels of oxytocin released to their brain. In short,  DOGS = HAPPINESS (but you probably already knew that).  #4 More play and exercise Trying to find a way to pry your kids off of the couch and away from screen time? Try adopting a dog! On average, children who have a dog in the home exercise an average of 11 minutes more per day than those who do not have a dog. Those minutes may not seem like a lot, but they add up to 5.5 hours a month, and 66 hours per year! Some researchers believe that dog ownership may be a viable way to help combat childhood obesity. #5 Therapy Did you know that 1 in 45 children in the United States have been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD)? That is nearly 2% of the entire population of children ages 2-17 years of age. Non-profits, such as Good Dog! Autism Companions, have found that therapy dogs have an amazing impact on the quality of life and development of children with ASD. Some of the many benefits include: Dog provides sense of security Decrease meltdowns Decrease anxiety and acts of aggression Increased willingness to try new things Increased ability to face fearful situation Increases social interaction due to the dog being an ice breaker and taking the focus off the child’s disability Encourages verbal communication, increased vocabulary The most recent study in the United States found that 6.4 million children have been diagnosed with ADHD. Even more concerning, the rate increases almost 2% with every passing year. Some of the benefits of a ADD or ADHD therapy dog include: Dogs help create consistency and a routine Provides an outlet for excess energy to help aid in hyperactivity Dogs help children cope with isolation and depression They take the stress out of new social situations Come to Hello English School and meet Super Rudolph, our school puppie, and have the best learning experience, ever. Also, you may follow Super Rudolph and Little Bea adventures on our UTUBE Channel.

The United Kingdom is a beautiful country with a lot of culture and traditions and at Hello Online School we’ve gathered some information that we thought interesting to learn about.  The UK is a country in northwestern Europe, located in the Atlantic Ocean, that includes four separate countries on the British Isles: England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Great Britain is the name for three nations on the main isle: England, Scotland and Wales. The only land border to a non-UK country is in Northern Ireland which borders with Ireland. The United Kingdom is a parliamentary democracy and constitutional monarchy and the monarch is Queen Elizabeth II, who has reigned since 1952, making her the world’s longest-serving current head of state!  The UK has been described as a «cultural superpower», and London has been described as a world cultural capital. The British culture has been spread overseas and given the world a lot of positive contributions, like the neat literature of Shakespeare, to the world breaking records of the Beatles and the excellent education form centuries-old universities at Cambridge and Oxford.  Every country has its traditions and the United Kingdom doesn’t fall behind, for example, the well-known tea time! The British love tea and don’t need an excuse to put the kettle on, they usually drink it with a cloud of milk and biscuits to dunk them in the tea! Ever heard of the famous “English breakfast”? Countries abroad try their best to copy it, but they never get it right.  It has quality sausages, proper bacon, couple of eggs, tomatoes, beans, mushrooms and a fried slice of toast, if you ever travel to England and go to a hotel or the popular bed and breakfasts, make sure not to miss it!   Fun facts A lot of the greatest writers come from England such as, William Shakespeare, Charles Dickens many scientists like Charles Darwin, Isaac Newton and Stephen Hawking among many others and the music like The Beatles, Elton John, Queen, Led Zeppelin… No location in the UK is further away from the sea than 125 km, that’s only 1 hour and a half by car!  London has one of the oldest transport systems in the world – and also one of the largest. And the largest library with over 170 million items in its catalog, in the towering British Library in King’s Cross. The UK’s most famous tourist attractions – Stonehenge was believed to be created in around 3000BC, meaning it’s older than Egypt’s pyramids!! The Loch Ness Monster supposedly dwells in Loch Ness, in Scotland – the largest lake in the UK. While this creature is of course mythological, many people have claimed to have seen it. Ancient languages are still spoken, not widely but the UK has four surviving Celtic languages that are still officially recognised in the modern day. These are Scottish Gaelic, Irish Gaelic, Welsh and Breton.

Some American Geography The United States is the fourth largest country in the world, it is made up of 50 states and it’s located between Canada and Mexico. The USA is home to a population of over 318 million people. It was established as a country on July 4, 1776, that’s way they celebrate Independence Day on July 4. It has some of the largest and most useful rivers and lakes in the world. The longest rivers in America are the Mississippi and Missouri and they join in the middle of the country! How amazing is that? The weather can be really cold if you’re in Alaska and can be very warm if you’re in Hawaii. The biggest celebrations The 4 th of July, is Independence Day! Is one of the most important holydays of the year! Thanksgiving is the day where family and close friends join together to have a big dinner and celebrate what they are grateful for Christmas day is celebrated all over the world but in America they decorate their houses indoor and outdoor decorations, they put the Christmas tree and they put a lot of lights on the outside of the house, they even have competitions Fun facts The US is the 4th largest country in the world by land area and 3rd by population The US has the world’s largest economy There is no official language in the US, many people assume they do but the federal government has never declared an official language Did you know the current flag was designed by a 17 year old as a high school project? The USA was founded in 1776, making it 244 years old Independence Day didn’t happen on July 4th, the day to free the US from the British rule was on July 2nd, however, the 4th of July the first signature was written on the Declaration of Independence. 56 men signed it but 8 were actually British The Statue of Liberty, located in New York, was a gift from France to the united states in October 1886 Harvard is the first university in the USA

School is over.  Vacation planning is in the works.  The weather is changing, and you can already start feeling the warmth of summer. Whether your plans include staying close to home, going on a vacation, or taking a road trip, there’s probably a lot of cool and fun things you might not have known about the warmest season of the year. At Hello Online School, we have compiled 20 fun facts about summer to help get you in the spirit of the season! 20 Fun Facts about Summer: 1. The first modern Olympic Games were held in the summer in 1896 in Athens, Greece. The first day of summer is between June 20th and June 22nd every year. The first day of summer is called the summer solstice, and the day varies due to the Earth’s rotation not exactly reflecting our calendar year. The last day of summer is September 20th. Watermelon is one of summer’s best summer treats. Did you know that watermelons are not a fruit, but a vegetable instead? They belong to the cucumber family of vegetables. The Eiffel Tower grows in the heat of the summer. Due to the iron expanding, the tower grows about 6 inches every summer. If you love ice cream, the summer season should be your favorite. July is national ice cream month. Another interesting fact about summer is that television shows used to only be reruns during the summer months. The idea being that everyone was outside enjoying the weather. A June fun fact is that the month of June is named after the Roman goddess Juno. The first women’s bathing suit was created in the 1800’s. It came with a pair of bloomers. The “dog days of summer” refer to the dates from July 3rd to August 11th. They are named so after the Sirius the Dog Star. This star is located in the constellation of Canis Major. Frisbees, invented in the 1870’s as a pie plate, but in the 1940’s, college students began throwing them around. They have since stopped being used for pie plates and are now a summertime staple. For a July fun fact, Roman general Marc Antony named the month of July after Julius Caesar. July is national blueberry month. The longest day of the year is on the summer solstice. Mosquitos are most prevalent during summer months. Mosquitos have been on earth for more than 30 million years. Most theme and water parks are on a summer seasonal schedule. Most amusement parks have a full time season from Memorial Day to Labor Day. August was named after Julius Caesar’s nephew. He had received the title of “Augustus” which means “reverend”. The first National Spelling Bee was held on June 17th, 1825. More thunderstorms occur during summer than any other time of year. They are also take place more commonly in the south east of England.\ Ice pops were invented in 1905 by an 11 year old boy. Hopefully these fun facts have you excited for the summer. Now you’ll be able to plan an epic getaway and create long lasting memories with friends and family. Get your adventure off to a great start. Happy summer from Hello Online School.

“There is nothing better than a friend, unless it is a friend with chocolate.” – Charles Dickens Chocolate is perhaps the world’s most favorite food. Kids love it, and women stand by it. Whether you are happy, sad, excited, tired or plain bored, a bar of chocolate is all you need to feel better. Give a kid a piece of chocolate, and he’ll feel like the luckiest one on the earth, at least until the chocolate lasts. Your child may not think about the history of chocolate when he has a bar in hand. But if he loves chocolate, he’d also love to hear about its history.Hello Online School has compiled the most interesting facts and information about chocolate, which most people consider the ‘Food of Gods’. But Where Does Chocolate Come From? Chocolate is made from cocoa beans, which are fermented, dried, and roasted cacao seeds, or seeds of the cacao plant. The seeds from the cacao pods are carefully removed and left exposed to light to let them ferment for around nine days or less. Once that is done, they are dried for a week or two under the hot sun, then roasted and blended to make the cocoa powder that is used for making chocolate.The history of chocolate is long and goes back to thousands of years. The first known use of chocolate was in 1900 BC, more than 3,500 years before Nestle` set up his chocolate manufacturing unit. Only at that time, it was not called chocolate.Archeological findings suggest civilizations that flourished in Mesoamerica, during the Early Formation period, may have used the bittersweet beans from the cacao trees in their beverages. The findings suggest that people knew how to make chocolate from the cacao seeds way back in 1700. BC Evidence found in the vessels used by these civilizations proves that people often used chocolate in their drinks, possibly fermented.They may have been used as currency for trade, while the drink made from it was considered the ‘food of Gods’. Only the wealthy Mayans who had enough cacao seeds to spare enjoyed the drink.Chocolate found its way into Europe when Columbus brought cacao seeds back with him to Spain, and presented them as a treasure to King Ferdinand. Two centuries later, an Englishman called Joseph Fry made the first solid chocolate. About 25 years after that, Henri Nestle` made the first chocolate bar using condensed milk. And the rest, as they say, is history! Fun Chocolate Facts For Kids Here are some really interesting facts about chocolate for kids. The word chocolate is derived from the Mayan word ‘Chocol,’ meaning a hot drink. The bitter, hot drink was called ‘Xacoatl’ by the Aztecs. Chocolate was once considered more valuable than gold dust. Imagine that! The scientific name of the cocoa plant is Theobroma cacao, where Theobroma means ‘food of the Gods’. A real chocolate river was created using water, chocolate, and cream for the movie Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. It stunk after a few days! White chocolate is not chocolate because it contains no cocoa solids. Ruth Wakefield created the first chocolate chip cookie in 1930, by accident. She gave the recipe to Nestle` in return for a lifetime supply of chocolate. Now that’s an interesting chocolate story for kids! During the revolutionary war, a few soldiers were paid in chocolate! Montezuma, the Aztec emperor, consumed 50 goblets of chocolate every day. Do you know why chocolate melts in your mouth? Because it is the only food that melts at 93 degrees Fahrenheit, below the average human body temperature. The Aztecs and the Mayans used chocolate drink as a stress reliever, way before the term ‘stress’ was coined! A tiny chocolate chip can give you enough energy to walk 150 feet. The smell of chocolate is enough to relax you! Apparently, the scent of chocolate increases theta brain waves that aid in relaxation. No wonder people tend to eat chocolate when they have problems. The shape of the cacao pod looks similar to a football, and it grows straight out from the branches. Chocolate contains an enzyme called phenylethylamine, which releases the ‘pleasure’ hormones in the brain, a feeling akin to being ‘in love’. The world’s biggest chocolate bar weighed 12,770 lbs. Chocolate-dipped potato chips exist, for real! Chocolate can be fatal to dogs and cats. Belgium issued limited edition chocolate-flavored stamps in 2013. An average American consumes almost 4.5kg of chocolate every year. Chocolate is perhaps the one food that your children will continue to love long after they grow up. So, don’t even think about stopping them from eating chocolate. And you shouldn’t either! The only thing that you should do is influence your child’s chocolate eating habits so that they enjoy chocolate in moderation, and not get addicted to it!

“You are the light of my life,” is one of the things you say to your child, to tell them how much you love them. But did you know that if you were the light, you could travel around the world 7.5 times in just one second! And if you were a sound, you would take around four hours to go around the earth. Coming to the Earth, if it were as fast as Jupiter, our day would be over in just nine hours! But it is fair enough to give our planet 24 hours to complete a rotation, considering it carries seven billion people on it! Interesting, isn’t it? These are just some of the many interesting science facts for kids, which amaze even us, the adults. Hello online school has compiled some of the most fascinating scientific facts you can share with your kids. Keep reading to be awed. Let’s begin with a basic question: What is Science? It is a systematic and structured study that involves observation, gathering evidence, experimenting, and testing to explain the natural and man-made phenomena. It is the field that allows us to understand the world around us better, and helps us create, build/grow and preserve the good things for the benefit of man, animal and every other organism. Now that you know what we are talking about, it is time for some fun, good-to-know science facts! The DNA in a person’s body, when uncoiled, can stretch from Pluto to the Sun and back. A person’s sneeze can travel at speeds of about 100 miles per hour! Imagine if your sneeze fueled your movement! Fleas can jump around 130times their own height. So if a flea were a person six feet high, it can jump 780 feet high just like that. No superpowers needed! An electric eel can produce up to 650 volts of electricity. Touch it for the biggest shock of your life! A photon takes 40,000 years to travel from the core of the sun to the surface of the sun. But it takes just eight minutes to travel from there to the earth. Science is a wonderful subject that can create geniuses of ordinary people. All that you need to do is create an interest for the subject in your kid. Open the doors to the world of science and let the child explore. Let them fall in love with the subject. For all you know, you may be nurturing the next Einstein that the world needs. What is the most interesting science fact known to your kids? Share details about it here.

In Hawaii, there are eight major islands: Oahu, Maui, Hawaii Island, Kauai, Lanai, Molokai, Niihau, and Kahoolawe. In total, Hawaii comprehends 137 islands including the major eight, islets, atolls, and reefs. While Hawaii enjoys some of the most beautiful white sand beaches in the world, its diverse climates may surprise you. On Hawaii Island alone, you can find different climates, from tropical and continuously wet to hot desert and periglacial ice climates.  Continue reading our blog to discover many curiosities about Hawaii The Hawaiian Islands are the most geographically isolated island chain on Earth More than 2,000 miles away from any other place, Hawaii is the most isolated island chain on Earth. Hawaii’s ecosystem developed in almost total isolation, so its unique flora and fauna tend to amaze people. The Hawaiian alphabet only has only 12 letters For non-native speakers and tourists, Hawaiian names can be a challenge. The reason why might be because the Hawaiian alphabet only contains 12 letters. Because so few consonants make up the Hawaiian language, words can be challenging to pronounce. Gambling is illegal in Hawaii Although the U.S. and some U.S. cities are often associated with gambling, if you are looking to make a trip to a casino during your Hawaiian vacation, you chose the wrong place to go. Hawaii does not have casinos, nor does it allow for gambling on board a ship, or anywhere gambling activities can take place. Hawaii does not observe Daylight Savings Time When the rest of the US springs ahead or falls behind, adjusting their clocks an hour forward or backward, Hawaii’s clocks stay exactly the same. Hawaii observes its own time zone, Hawaii Standard Time. Hawaii grows by roughly 42 acres each year Hawaii’s Big Island (the common term used for the state of Hawaii), is growing by more than 42 acres each year because of the Kilauea Volcano, that has been erupting for around 30 years now. Mauna Loa, also located in Hawaii’s Big Island, is another of the biggest volcanoes in the entire world. Its lava fields were once a training site for astronauts before they went to the moon. Hawaii was the first state to ban plastic bags. In July 2015, Oahu, the most populated Hawaiian island, joined the other Hawaiian islands and banned plastic bags from their stores. This made it the first state to ban the use of plastic bags.