Geography

Hawaii is the only state that does not lie on the mainland of North America. Hawaii is located in the northern Pacific, 2,397 miles southwest of San Francisco, California.

There are actually 132 islands in the state of Hawaii! The largest of the eight main islands is the island of Hawaii.

Quick Facts at a Glance

	Capital	Honolulu On the Island of Oahu
	Area	6,471 sq miles Ranks 47th
	Date of Statehood	August 21, 1959
	Nickname	The Aloha State
	Motto	"The Life of the Land is Perpetuated in Righteousness"
	State Bird	Nene (Hawaiian Goose)
	State Tree	Kukui
	State Flower	Hibiscus
	Highest Point	Mauna Kea 13,796 feet
	Lowest Point	Sea Level
	Postal Abbreviation	HI

Hawaii may have been named by Hawaii Loa, the island's discoverer. Its nickname, Aloha State, comes from the Polynesians' friendliness to tourists. Among other things, aloha means "love" in Hawaiian.

Polynesians first sailed to Hawaii from other Pacific islands in the year A.D. 300. In 1778, British Captain James Cook named the islands the Sandwich Islands.

In 1900, Hawaii became a U.S. territory.

Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, a naval base, on December 7, 1941, bringing the United States into WWII.

Hawaii became our 50th state on August 21, 1959.

Official Song of the State of Hawaii

Hawai`i Pono`i

Written by King David Kalakaua Music by Professor Henry Berger, the Royal Bandmaster

Hawaii ponoi Nana i kou, moi
Kalani Alii, ke Alii.
Makua lani e Kamehameha e
Na kaua e pale Me ka i he.

(translation)

Hawaii's own true sons, be loyal to your chief
Your country's liege and lord, the Alii.1
Father above us all, Kamehameha,2
Who guarded in the war with his ihe, 3

1. Alii (ah-lee-ee) sovereign
2. Kamehameha (Kah-may'-ha-may'-ha) king who first unified the islands.
3. Ihe (ee-hay) spear

Agriculture Macadamia Nuts Fruits Coffee Bananas Pineapple Sugar Cane

Where Would You Like to Go Next?

	Hawaiian History in Brief
	Hawaiian Luau
	Hawaii for Kids
	Hawaii Links
	Virtual Hawaii

Click the Hammock to attend an Hawaiian Luau

This Hawaiian Ring site owned by Jeanne. Want to join the Hawaiian Ring?
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Page Updated on June 30, 1999

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