Last updated on October 1st, 2022
39. Did you know that the Earth’s tallest volcano – Mauna Kea – is in Hawaii? The volcano together with other four volcanoes makes up the Big Island of Hawaii. The volcanic mountain is so immense that it is sinking into the sea floor under the pressure of its own weight.[20]
40. The first telephone was established in Hawaii in 1931.
41. Hawaii lies just below the Tropic of Cancer.[23]
42. Hawaii on its rural and urban interstates has the lowest maximum speed limit (60 mph) of any state.
43. The hula dance was created in Hawaii. It uses hand motions to tell stories and to pay respect to gods, goddesses, and nature.
44. The third Friday in August is a holiday, commemorating Hawai’i statehood in 1959. The day is also known as “Admission Day.” Who was the first Japanese American to serve in Congress? In 1959, Daniel Inouye, became the first Japanese American elected to Congress. He fought heroically for the United States in the WWII.
About the flag of Hawaii
1. Design and Symbolism
The flag of Hawaii features eight horizontal stripes, alternating among the colors white, red, and blue. They represent the eight biggest islands of the state.
At the upper left corner is a scaled-down Union Jack, which is the flag of the United Kingdom. It highlights the close historical ties between the old Hawaiian Kingdom and the UK’s Royal Navy.
2. Adoption
Hawaii adopted this flag on December 29, 1845. The last modification was in 1898.
3. Technical Details
The flag’s width is half of its length. The stripes are of equal thickness, with the topmost being white, followed by red and blue. The same pattern appears down to the bottom. Note that the Union Jack on the corner uses a 4:7 ratio instead of a 1:2 ratio.
4. History
In 1778, Captain George Vancouver from the British Royal Navy visited the islands of Hawaii for the first time. He returned in 1793 aboard the HMS Discovery and met the ruler, Kamehameha I. His gift was a Red Ensign – a red banner with a miniature British flag on the upper left. It became the unofficial flag of Hawaii until 1816.
Between 1809 and 1811, Captain Alexander Adams arrived in Hawaii and became a commander of the Kingdom’s navy. In 1816, he negotiated the purchase of an American ship called Forester on behalf of Prince Liholiho. The king sent Adams to China to sell sandalwood aboard this ship. Before leaving, he left his flag for use at the port, effectively becoming the Hawaiian flag. It had eight stripes and the British flag.
Captain Adams refused to sail under the US flag when the War of 1812 between the US and the UK broke out. The British Empire was at the height of its power at this time. He feared that everyone on the islands would perish if they did not pledge their allegiance to Britain. His voyage to China was the first time a ship sailed under the flag of Hawaii with the Union Jack.
5. Other Flags
The governor of Hawaii uses a different flag with blue at the top and red and the bottom. Before statehood, eight white stars surround the letters “TH,” which stands for “Territory of Hawaii.” After statehood, the acronym gave way to the word “HAWAII.”
Early versions of the Hawaii flag had varying numbers of stripes from seven to nine, signaling the inclusion or exclusion of some islands. Some had a red band at the top, unlike the standard white.
The Union Flag flew over Hawaii for a few months, from February to July 1843. It was during the short British occupation led by Captain Lord George Paulet. He and his men eventually had to flee with the arrival of American warships.
6. Flag Facts
Every July 31, Hawaii celebrates Flag Day called La Hae Hawai’i. It started in 1990 under the initiative of Governor John Waihee. It coincides with Sovereignty Restoration Day or La Ho’iho’i Ea.
An inverted Hawaiian flag indicates that the state is in distress. It is also the chosen symbol for the Hawaii sovereignty movement – a political and cultural campaign to re-establish an independent kingdom of Hawaii.
Hawaii – quick facts and state symbols
| State Abbreviation | HI |
|---|---|
| State Capital | Honolulu List Of 50 U.S. States And Their Capital |
| Largest City | Honolulu |
| State Size | Total (Land + Water): 10,931 sq miles; Land Only: 6,423 sq miles |
| Population | 1,441,553 (Estimate July 1, 2021 from United States Census Bureau) |
| Statehood | August 21, 1959 |
| State rank by population | 40th |
| State rank by date of formation | 50th |
| State rank by area | 43rd |
| Number of Counties | 5 Complete list of 50 states and number of counties in each |
| Demonym | Hawaiian |
| Bordering States | None |
| Official Language | English, Hawaiian |
| Highest Point | Mauna Kea 13,796 ft (4205.0 m) |
| Lowest point | Pacific Ocean Sea level |
| Mean elevation | 3,030 feet above seal level |
| Length | 1,522 miles (2,450 km) |
| Width | 93 miles |
| Governor | Josh Green (D) |
| Lieutenant Governor | Sylvia Luke (D) |
| Electoral Votes | 4 |
| State Motto | Ua mau ke ea o ka aina i ka pono (The life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness) |
| State Nickname | Aloha State |
| % Water | 41.2 |
| Noble prize Winners | Barack H. Obama (Peace, 2009) |
| Famous people | Jason Momoa (Actor) Bruno Mars (Singer) |
| U.S. President Born in Hawaii | 1. Barack Hussein Obama II. |
| State Tree | Kukui |
| State Bird | Nene |
| State Insect | Pulelehua |
| State Fish | Humuhumunukunukuāpuaʻa |
| State Island Flower | Hawai'i 'Ohi'a Lehua |
| State Gem | Ēkaha kū moana |
| State Island Lei Material: Ni'hau | Pupu Shells |
| State Marine Mammal | Humpback Whale |
| State Mammal | Hawaiian Monk Seal |
| State Land Mammal | Hawaiian Hoary Bat |
| State Musical Instrument (traditional) | Pahu |
| State Plant | Kalo |
| Longitude | 154° 48′ W to 178° 22′ W |
| Latitude | 18° 55′ N to 28° 27′ N |
| Time Zone | Hawaii-Aleutian Time Zone |
| Website | www.hawaii.gov |
| Area Codes | 808 |
| Table last updated | December 09, 2022 |