The best of 11 states - here in NYC

With bonus factoids from our resident quizmaster, Noah Tarnow of the Big Quiz Thing (bigquizthing.com).

California | Illinois | Louisiana | Massachusetts | New Jersey
Texas | Hawaii | Colorado | Minnesota | Nebraska | Oklahoma

Hawaii

Put your hips to good use by taking a hula class at Nola Studios (244 W 54th St between Broadway and Eighth Ave, tenth floor; 845-359-9214, hulanewyork.com), where istructor Luana Haraguchi has been teaching traditional hula since 1968, and makes sure students are aware of the cultural roots of the dance. Or, don a grass skirt and embrace the aloha spirit during the one-day “recession special” ($15) intro class July 11, at the Sheridan Fencing Academy (2035 Second Ave between 104th and 105th Sts, second floor); funds will go toward sending the school to the World Invitational Hula Festival in November.

The Hawaiian Shave Ice at Eton (205 Sackett St between Clinton and Henry Sts, Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn; 718-222-2999) comes recommended by Hawaiian slack-key guitarist Andy Wang (andywangmusic.com). He and his family went out to Red Hook specifically to try it a few weeks ago, and left impressed. It carries 26 different flavors, like coconut, cotton candy and bubble gum, and prices range from $3.25 to $4.75 per serving.

L&L Hawaiian BBQ (64 Fulton St between Cliff and Gold Sts; 212-577-8888, hawaiianbarbecue.com) is a Hawaiian franchise, but transplant islanders can appreciate its greasy goodness. Nersa Miller, of halawai.org, recommends the garlic-ahi plate ($8.59), the SPAM musubi ($3.29–$4.49) and garlic-shrimp plate ($8.59).

Fun fact: The only state in which coffee is grown is Hawaii, where it’s probably worth getting up in the morning.

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California | Illinois | Louisiana | Massachusetts | New Jersey
Texas | Hawaii | Colorado | Minnesota | Nebraska | Oklahoma

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