# The Big Island

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-island/381159>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [November 20, 2006, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-island/381159 "2006-11-20T15:57:18Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 7\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\
**Post date:** [November 20, 2006, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-island/381159/1 "2006-11-20T15:57:18Z")

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Why are all the Hawaiian islands called by their Hawaiian names, except The Big Island? I suppose there must be a Hawaiian name for it–what is it?

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**Author:** ![OneCentStamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/13edae/32.png) [@OneCentStamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneCentStamp)\
**Post date:** [November 20, 2006, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-island/381159/2 "2006-11-20T16:07:44Z")

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The big island’s name is Hawai’i. It’s called “the big island” to distinguish it from Hawaii (i.e. the entire state).

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**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\
**Post date:** [November 20, 2006, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-island/381159/3 "2006-11-20T16:12:04Z")

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It’s also Hawai’i County, FWIW.

Its characteristic triangular shape results from it having been the product of flows from three volcanoes: Kilauea, Mauna Kea, and Mauna Loa.

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**Author:** ![HubZilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ccd318/32.png) [@HubZilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HubZilla)\
**Post date:** [November 20, 2006, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-island/381159/4 "2006-11-20T18:58:42Z")

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[QUOTE=OneCentStamp]  
The big island’s name is Hawai’i. It’s called “the big island” to distinguish it from Hawaii (i.e. the entire state).  
[/QUOTE]

Bingo. No one calls it Hawaii.

Interestingly enough, from the neighbor islands, few call this island Oahu. No, they’re going to Honolulu.

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**Author:** ![capybara](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/capybara/32/202_2.png) [@capybara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/capybara)\
**Post date:** [November 21, 2006, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-island/381159/5 "2006-11-21T01:53:28Z")

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It’s the Big Island because it’s usually less confusing but not always. “Where did you grow up?” “Hawaii.” “No, I know that, I mean what ISLAND?” “Hawaii.” “No, I mean which island. . .” “The Big Island.” “Oh, Oahu! Interesting.” “Aiagh.”

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**Author:** ![Fern\_Forest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/71c47a/32.png) [@Fern\_Forest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fern_Forest)\
**Post date:** [November 21, 2006, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-island/381159/6 "2006-11-21T02:54:18Z")

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[QUOTE=Polycarp]  
Its characteristic triangular shape results from it having been the product of flows from three volcanoes: Kilauea, Mauna Kea, and Mauna Loa.  
[/QUOTE]  
Five. You forgot Kohala and Hualalai which last erupted around 1800 and should erupt again.

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**Author:** ![ouryL](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ouryl/32/6067_2.png) [@ouryL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ouryL)\
**Post date:** [November 21, 2006, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-island/381159/7 "2006-11-21T02:56:42Z")

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King Kamehameha conquered the island of Hawaii first. It was his Kingdom. Thus when he conquered the rest of the islands, they became part of the Kingdom of Hawaii.