Everything you need to know about Hawaii — and maybe a few things not so essential but just plain fascinating — can be found in the latest edition of the State of Hawaii Data Book, released last week by the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism.

The Data Book, created by State Statistician Robert Schmitt in 1962, is the agency’s hottest-selling product and “the most comprehensive statistical book about Hawaii in a single compilation,” according to DBEDT Director Luis P. Salaveria. The just-released 2015 State of Hawaii Data Book has approximately 800 data tables covering a broad range of statistical information in areas such as population, education, crime, energy, tourism and transportation.

Trivia buffs will appreciate some of the more quirkier factoids, like how many trees are growing along city and county roadways (143,967) and the most common surname of babies born in Hawaii (that would be Lee — also the most common surname on death certificates).

It takes four people — three statisticians and an economist — in DBEDT’s Research and Economic Analysis Division to compile the Data Book, with tables updated year-round and put into an online book every August. The data is available for viewing and downloads at dbedt.hawaii.gov/economic/databook.

Because we love trivia — and the number 5 — Today staff writers mined the updated Data Book for 5 fun facts about Hawaii.

Old folks on board

It shouldn’t surprise anyone that the age group with the fewest number of Hawaii drivers is also the oldest: There were 308 residents 95 to 99 years old who possessed driver’s licenses in 2015 — less than one-tenth of 1 percent of the state’s total driving population.

The number of drivers in their late 90s, which grew by 21 percent from the previous year, is sure to increase. Table 18.16 of the Hawaii Data Book shows more than 2,800 drivers in the 90-to-94 age category.

Even a small number of nonagenarian drivers underscores issues of safety, said Barbara Kim Stanton, state director for AARP Hawaii. “Many older drivers will drive safely throughout their lives,” she said. “However, older drivers who have health conditions or impairments that cause physical limitations may be at greater risk for driving problems.”

According to an AARP driver safety briefing from 2015, older Americans — defined as anyone 65 and older — have the lowest crash rate per licensed driver of all driving age groups. The safety briefing also notes that older drivers are injured more easily and are more likely to die when seriously hurt in a crash.

AARP Hawaii offers a book, “We Need to Talk,” that aims to help family members speak with an aging loved one about hanging up their keys.

“That is going to be one of the toughest conversations you will have with your parents,” Stanton said. “It is giving up their social connection and independence, especially if you don’t have any alternatives. We hear that a lot.”

The vast majority of Hawaii drivers must renew their license every eight years, but at 72 a driver’s license must be renewed every two years.

Ray Emory, a 95-year-old Kahala resident, said he still feels comfortable behind the wheel — and that his license is good until May.

“I have no problem with driving,” he said. “I just take it easy and go down the highway. I don’t want to do a lot of driving. I just go to the grocery store. I don’t drive around the island giving a tour.” — Mike Gordon

Those are the breaks

Local surfers might be surprised to learn that Oahu has a whopping 594 surfing sites. Then why’s the surf so crowded?

As one might expect, there’s more to the numbers than meets the eye, including a different number: A total of 300 Oahu surf sites are listed in John R.K. Clark’s “Hawaii Place Names: Shores, Beaches and Surf Sites,” published in 2001. The Hawaii Data Book’s source was a 1971 surf site survey.

Asked about this discrepancy over the phone, Clark said it doesn’t mean there aren’t 594 sites — if you include potential breaks. After all, he pointed out, more sites have become surfable since the “pre-leash” days of 1971.

So one could view the survey as predictive? Exactly, said Clark. “There’s probably more surf spots because it’s gotten more crowded and people are surfing more of the secondary surf spots.” Clark himself reeled off the names of 90 spots stretching from Walls in Portlock to Flies in Kakaako, including such sketchy breaks as Sharkies, Snipes, Bones and No Place, in addition to their storied kin.

The 1971 Statewide Surfing Site Survey referenced in the Data Book was conducted by the Surfing Education Association, which was founded, along with Save Our Surf, by waterman and environmentalist John Kelly.

“Kelly went around the island and talked to all the troops out there. He also looked at aerial photography, and even if it wasn’t a known surf spot, if it showed white water he would consider it a surf spot,” Clark said. That explains Kelly’s inclusion of spots such as Unsurfable in Waikiki, which Clark left out.

Table 7.52 in the Hawaii Data Book defines a surfing site as “a specific wave-breaking zone caused by a shoal and having sufficient consistency to be identified as a surfable riding area.” Which doesn’t necessarily mean that anyone is surfing it — yet. — Mindy Pennybacker

Drawing a crowd

Diana Ross, Elton John and Jack Johnson got nothing on Honolulu Theatre for Youth.

Those music headliners in combination with all the other pop and rock acts, classical concerts, operas and ballets that played at Blaisdell Center and the Waikiki Shell during the 2014-2015 season didn’t attract as many patrons as HTY’s family-oriented productions.

The local theater troupe, housed at Tenney Theatre on the grounds of St. Andrew’s Cathedral, reported attendance of 91,457 people, most of them school-age children, at 407 performances of seven productions performed at Tenney and on tour at libraries and schools that season.

By comparison, the city’s Department of Enterprise Services, which operates Blaisdell and the Shell, reported attendance of 86,187 over the same period.

Eric Johnson, artistic director at Honolulu Theatre for Youth, said that while he is pleased, the figure doesn’t surprise him.

“I do think that it is indicative that Hawaii is really a place that values family and values stories,” Johnson said. “You hear so much about the cuts and the diminishing support of the arts curriculum. HTY is a counterpoint to that.”

Also, he said, while other groups rely on a cast of volunteers, HTY is the only full-time professional theater company in the state, which allows actors to deliver two school performances in the morning and rehearse the next show on the bill in the afternoon.

Other numbers from Table 7.41 in the Hawaii Data Book show classical music concerts drawing the biggest crowds at city venues (29,682), and Diamond Head Theatre No. 2 behind HTY in community theater attendance (48,411). — Donica Kaneshiro

Electronic library

Hawaii State Library System users aren’t just checking out books these days. An increasing number are using their free library cards to access more than 40,000 e-books, audiobooks and digital copies of popular magazine titles.

More than 475,650 electronic media items were in circulation at the state’s libraries last year, an increase of 33.6 percent compared with 2014 and a nearly 650 percent jump since 2011.

“More people now own smartphones, tablets and eReaders. Mobile materials are convenient and great for traveling … ,” said State Librarian Stacey Aldrich via email. “EBooks can be conveniently downloaded from our website. There are no late fees and patrons can borrow 24/7 remotely.”

Through a partnership with the OverDrive digital library reserve, users can submit requests for up to five e-book and/or audiobook titles every two weeks. Virtual reading rooms make it easy for younger kids and teens to find age-appropriate material, and while e-books can be read on all popular digital devices, all you need is a computer with web connectivity to access borrowed materials. RBdigital Gateway’s Zinio magazine service allows users to download the latest issues of Rolling Stone, Newsweek and National Geographic, among others.

In addition, the South Korean government and Korean Library Foundation have made about 2,100 Korean-language e-books available to Hawaii State Library System users, along with approximately 200 DVDs.

According to Table 3.28 in the Hawaii Data Book, a fair number of patrons still drop by public libraries, with 4.94 million customer visits in 2015. — Jason Genegabus

Kale sales hailed

Kale’s reputation as a “super food” is boosting its popularity in Hawaii, with sales surpassing the $1 million mark in 2014, the most recent year cited in the Hawaii Data Book. The leafy green vegetable is now counted alongside the likes of Chinese cabbage, snap beans and watercress in the ranks of million-dollar vegetable crops in the state.

“It’s a huge seller,” said Pamela Boyar, co-founder of FarmLovers Farmers’ Markets. “The vendors pile it up at the beginning of the market, and by the end of the market, it’s gone.”

Boyar said most of her farm vendors sell various kinds of kale at her markets in Kakaako, Aiea, Kailua and Waimea Valley at about $3 per bunch.

Sean Anderson of Green Rows Farm in Waimanalo grows and sells several varieties at the KailuaTown Farmers’ Market, including organic Lacinato (or dino) kale, curly kale, red-stemmed Russian and Siberian kale.

“It’s an easy green vegetable for people to get into liking,” he said. “You can throw it into smoothies, put it into soups, eat it raw in salads, stir-fry it.”

Kale, touted as rich in vitamins A, C and K, has popped up on restaurant menus, ranging from Leahi Health’s kale avocado taco to the organic kale and butter lettuce salad at the upscale Merriman’s Kapalua on Maui.

“I think kale is here to stay,” said Anderson. “I don’t think it’s going anywhere.”

There’s evidence to support that: According to statistics released Thursday by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the local kale crop had a sales value of $1.1 million in 2015.

Table 19.09 in the State of Hawaii Data Book show 60 acres harvested for kale, with 630,000 pounds produced in 2014.— Nina Wu