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| U.S. state of Hawaii | |
|---|---|
| Name | Hawaii |
| Nickname | Aloha State |
| Capital | Honolulu |
| Largest city | Honolulu |
| Admittance order | 50th |
| Admittance date | August 21, 1959 |
| Population | 1,455,271 (2020) |
| Area total sq mi | 10,931 |
| Iso | US-HI |
| Motto | Ua Mau ke Ea o ka ʻĀina i ka Pono |
U.S. state of Hawaii is an archipelagic state in the central Pacific Ocean composed of volcanic islands and atolls. Its largest population center is Honolulu on the island of Oʻahu, and it is the most isolated population center on Earth, lying about 2,400 miles from Los Angeles, 3,850 miles from Tokyo, and 5,200 miles from Sydney. Hawaii's strategic location and unique island ecosystems have shaped interactions with global powers such as the United States, Kingdom of Hawaii, Japan, United Kingdom, and Spain.
The name "Hawaii" derives from the Proto-Polynesian *Hawaiʻi; scholars link it to the homeland concept Hawaiki and to Polynesian migrations associated with navigators like Paʻao and voyaging canoes such as Hokuleʻa. The state motto, "Ua Mau ke Ea o ka ʻĀina i ka Pono," originates with King Kamehameha III and the 1843 restoration of sovereignty following the Paulet Affair. The state flag incorporates the Union Jack from historical ties with the United Kingdom and eight horizontal stripes representing the main islands recognized during the era of Kamehameha I: Hawaiʻi (island), Maui, Kauaʻi, Oʻahu, Molokaʻi, Lānaʻi, Niʻihau, and Kahoolawe. Early flags and royal standards used by the House of Kamehameha, Prince Kūhiō, and Queen Liliʻuokalani influenced modern symbolism.
Ancient settlement began with Polynesian navigators from Tahiti and Society Islands roughly between 300 and 800 CE, bringing crops like taro and animals such as pigs; chiefs emerged in complex societies exemplified by the aliʻi class and ritual sites like Puʻukoholā Heiau. The era of consolidation under Kamehameha I ended interisland warfare in the early 19th century, interacting with global actors including merchants from Boston, missionaries from New England such as Hiram Bingham, and whalers. The 1840 Constitution of the Kingdom of Hawaii introduced institutions resembling European models; treaties with Great Britain, France, and the United States followed. The 1893 overthrow led by John L. Stevens and the Committee of Safety displaced Queen Liliʻuokalani and precipitated the Republic of Hawaii under Sanford B. Dole, annexation in 1898 during the Spanish–American War era, and territorial status in 1900. During World War II the Attack on Pearl Harbor brought military buildup and social change; statehood was achieved in 1959 with advocates like John A. Burns and Daniel Inouye shaping mid-century politics and civil rights movements.
The archipelago comprises eight main islands, including Hawaiʻi (island), Maui, Oʻahu, Kauaʻi, Molokaʻi, Lānaʻi, Niʻihau, and Kahoolawe, plus numerous islets and seamounts like Kure Atoll and Loʻihi Seamount. Volcanism from the Hawaiian hotspot produced shield volcanoes such as Mauna Loa, Kīlauea, Hualālai, and Mauna Kea; Kīlauea's eruptions impacted communities near Pāhoa and Hilo. The islands host endemic species including the ʻIʻiwi and Hawaiian honeycreepers and imperiled taxa like the Hawaiian monk seal, threatened by invasive species introduced during contact and land-use changes tied to plantations such as sugarcane and pineapple estates owned by entities like Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Company and investors connected to Alexander & Baldwin. Conservation areas include Haleakalā National Park, Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, and marine protected areas around Papahānaumokuākea recognized under UNESCO conventions.
Hawaii's population reflects Native Hawaiian and multiethnic histories, with significant communities of Japanese Americans, Filipino Americans, Chinese Americans, Korean Americans, and Portuguese Americans, alongside descendants of European and Pacific Islander settlers. Urban concentrations center on Honolulu County and Kauaʻi County, while rural districts on Hawaiʻi (island) and Maui County retain strong Native Hawaiian cultural presence tied to ʻohana networks and institutions like Kamehameha Schools and University of Hawaiʻi. Languages include Hawaiian, promoted through immersion schools and Hawaiian-language revitalization led by figures such as Mary Kawena Pukui, alongside widespread use of English and varieties like Hawaiian Pidgin influenced by plantation-era labor migration. Religious communities span Christianity denominations, Shinto and Buddhism among immigrant populations, and Native Hawaiian spiritual practices linked to sites such as Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau.
Hawaii's economy centers on tourism to destinations like Waikiki, Haleakalā, and Nā Pali Coast State Wilderness Park, military installations including Pearl Harbor Naval Base and Schofield Barracks, and services in Honolulu. Agriculture formerly dominated by sugar and pineapple gave way to diversified crops such as macadamia nuts, coffee (notably Kona coffee), and nursery products for export. Energy and infrastructure projects respond to high import dependence for petroleum and food, prompting initiatives involving University of Hawaiʻi researchers, renewable projects with companies like Hawaiian Electric Industries, and federal programs from agencies such as the Department of Defense and NOAA. Economic policy and labor issues engage organizations including the Hawaii State AFL–CIO and influential figures such as T. V. R. trade negotiators.
Hawaii operates under a state constitution adopted in 1959 and amended by voters; key legal landmarks include land management cases involving Office of Hawaiian Affairs and federal statutes tied to Apology Resolution debates in United States Congress. Politically, Hawaii has produced national figures like Daniel Inouye, Spark Matsunaga, and Patsy Mink, and state leaders such as George Ariyoshi and Linda Lingle. The state's political culture includes debates over Native Hawaiian sovereignty, management of ceded lands handled historically by entities like the Territorial Government of Hawaii, and federal relationships evident during military base realignment and environmental regulations involving EPA and US Fish and Wildlife Service.
Hawaiian culture blends Native Hawaiian traditions—hula, ʻoli (chants), and concepts like aloha and kuleana—with influences from Japanese, Filipino, Chinese, Portuguese, and American settlers. Festivals and institutions include Aloha Festivals, King Kamehameha Day, Merrie Monarch Festival, and the Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum preserving artifacts such as feather cloaks and ʻiwi kupuna. Cuisine features ʻono dishes like poi, loco moco, poke, and plate lunches originating in plantation kitchens; music traditions span ʻukulele performers, slack-key guitarists such as Gabby Pahinui, and contemporary artists who travel through venues like Hawaii Theatre. Sports and recreation leverage ocean resources with surfing at Banzai Pipeline, outrigger canoe racing tied to clubs like Hokuleʻa voyaging society, and academic programs at University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa shaping research and cultural revival.