Unpacking the “Hawaii 2” Mystery: Not Your Typical Tropical Paradise
You might be picturing Honolulu and those stunning, world-famous beaches, right? Well, think again, honey, ’cause number two here is way more crucial than you’re imagining. We’re actually diving into a tiny speck of land nestled in Maine, USA, known as Hawaii 2.
This little gem, which is also affectionately called Birch Island, clocks in at a mere six acres. You can find it chilling in St. George Lake, right by the charming town of Liberty. Picture this: a miniscule island, not some sprawling tropical haven!
When a Card Game Buys an Island: A Hilarious Acquisition Story
Cards Against Humanity, that wildly popular party game, swooped in and snagged the island back in 2014. Yep, you heard that right! The same folks from Chicago behind all those hilariously inappropriate cards became island owners.
Their grand plan? To drum up some cash for the Sunlight Foundation, so they carved up the island into a whopping 250,000 pieces, each a square foot, and let members of the public “license” them. This brilliant scheme, dubbed “10 Days or Whatever of Kwanzaa,” was a follow-up to their 2013 holiday stunt where 100,000 lucky ducks could snag twelve gifts for twelve bucks.
Turns out, these guys had joked about dropping serious coin on a small island before, after donating to the Wikimedia Foundation. So, when Birch Island popped up for sale, they didn’t bat an eye, quickly shelling out a reported $190,000. Fast forward to the 2014 Christmas season, their holiday offering was ten gifts for fifteen dollars – a slight price hike and fewer goodies than the previous year. Still, this time, a quarter of a million people got to join in the fun, more than double the previous limit! The grand finale after nine mystery gifts? A one-square-foot plot of their brand-new island, Hawaii 2!
Google Maps Gets a Makeover: The Name Change Saga
Before Cards Against Humanity rocked up and slapped a new name on it, this island was always known as Birch Island. But Google Maps? They were on it like white on rice, updating the area practically overnight. Sure, the local government wasn’t exactly jumping for joy, taking their sweet time to embrace the fresh moniker. Two years later, it was still up in the air whether they’d officially registered it as Hawaii 2.
So, you own a piece of this island, huh? Well, you *can* visit your slice of paradise, but let me tell you, it’s not always the best idea. Plenty of folks have tried to row or even inflate a boat to get to Hawaii 2. While it’s not some epic, perilous journey, winter brings with it ice and snow, making the trip pretty dicey. But here’s the kicker: rumor has it Cards Against Humanity stashed a vault somewhere on the island. Talk about a prime motivator for adventurous souls to hop in a boat!
Meanwhile, the local residents? Not exactly thrilled about the prospect of 250,000 people descending on their quiet town, all trying to cross over to the island. Cards Against Humanity, however, insisted they bought it to turn a running gag into reality and, equally important, to safeguard the tiny island for future generations. It ended up being a fantastic way to rake in some cash for a good cause, and boy, did it get everyone buzzing!
