Mary Bramlett Elementary fifth graders Shane Vance (left) and Natividad Alvarez try pieces of coconut Wednesday during a lesson on Hawaii. Vance and Alvarez helped complete a research project about Hawaii for a Beta Club assignment. Coconuts and a volcano's eruption provided the grand finale Wednesday to a research project about Hawaii at Mary Bramlett Elementary.

The school's Beta Club members sampled coffee, pineapples, and coconuts while learning about the nation's only island state. The food was brought back by guidance counselor Linda Wallace from a family vacation to Hawaii shortly after the school year ended in June.

Beta Club members have spent the past week involved in a research project focused on the newest of the 50 U.S. states.

Hawaii consists of eight main islands, each with their own characteristics.

Molokai is known for the world's largest sea cliffs and longest waterfall. The east end has a tropical rain forest and receives 240 inches of rain a year.

The "Big Island" features Kilauea, the world's most active volcano. The island houses the world's biggest telescope along with numerous scientific observatories.

The school's Beta Club members spent time researching the volcanoes in the Hawaiian island chain. Fifth grade teacher Erik Gerstenacker built a clay model Wednesday afternoon to show students what happens when a volcano erupts.

"The purpose of this project was to encourage students to learn more about what is outside of Gaffney," said Jamie Bryant, one of the Beta Club sponsors. "We wanted to show students different parts of the world and encourage students to learn more about different cultures."

Students viewed videos on the different islands and discussed how Hawaii became a part of the United States.

Hawaii was a monarchy from 1810 until 1893 when the government was overthrown by American and European residents on the islands.

After several years as an independent republic, Hawaii was annexed by the United States in 1900. It officially became a state in 1959.

Some parents felt like experts on Hawaii after listening to their children talk about their research. For example, Mary Bramlett fifth grade student Sam Phillips spent so much time talking about Hawaii around the dinner table that it prompted his mother to speak with the teacher.

"The parent told me 'I know everything there is to know about Hawaii, and he wants to go there,'" Mary Bramlett Elementary fifth grade teacher Tracy Jones said.