Hawaii

Hawaii is an island state of the United States, located in the Pacific Ocean about 2,000 miles southwest of the U.S. mainland. It is one of the two non-contiguous U.S. states, along with Alaska, and is the only state not on the North American mainland. Hawaii is also the only state that is an archipelago, meaning it is made up of many islands.

The state consists of 137 volcanic islands that form almost the entire Hawaiian archipelago. The eight main islands are Niʻihau, Kauaʻi, Oʻahu, Molokaʻi, Lānaʻi, Kahoʻolawe, Maui, and Hawaiʻi, with the last often called the "Big Island." Most people live on Oʻahu, where the capital city, Honolulu, is located.

Hawaii has a rich history. People from Polynesians settled there long ago. It became a kingdom and later became a state of the United States on August 21, 1959, joining as the most recent state to join the union.

Hawaii is famous for its beautiful beaches, active volcanoes, and tropical climate, which attract many visitors. However, the state faces challenges, such as climate change, which can bring drought, sea level rise, and wildfire.

Etymology

The name "Hawaii" comes from its largest island, also called Hawaiʻi. Many believe the island was named after Hawaiʻiloa, a hero in old Hawaiian stories.

The word Hawaiʻi in the Hawaiian language sounds like an old Polynesian word *Sawaiki, meaning "homeland". Similar words appear in other Polynesian languages, such as Māori (Hawaiki), Rarotongan (ʻAvaiki), and Samoan (Savaiʻi).

In 1978, Hawaiian became an official language of the state, along with English. Many important groups, such as the Governor of Hawaiʻi, the Hawaiʻi State Legislature, and the University of Hawaiʻi, use the spelling Hawaiʻi to honor the local language and culture.

Geography and environment

See also: List of islands of Hawaii

There are eight main islands in Hawaii. Seven of them have people living on them, but only six are open to visitors. Niʻihau is privately managed and you cannot go there. This island is home to native Hawaiians. You also cannot visit the uninhabited Kahoʻolawe island.

The Hawaiian archipelago is far from the United States, about 2,000 miles southwest. Hawaii is the southernmost U.S. state and the only one not in North America, as it is in Oceania. It is also the only U.S. state completely surrounded by water and made up only of islands.

The Hawaiian islands were formed by volcanoes. This process still happens today. The newest volcano is south of the coast of Hawaiʻi Island. The last eruption outside Hawaiʻi Island happened at Haleakalā on Maui a long time ago.

Hawaiʻi has many plants and animals that are in danger. Some native plants need help to grow because the animals that help them usually are not there anymore.

Hawaii has two national parks: Haleakalā National Park on Maui, and Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park on Hawaiʻi Island, which includes the active volcano Kīlauea. There are also several national historical parks and other protected areas.

Hawaiʻi has a tropical climate. Summer temperatures during the day are around 88 °F (31 °C), and at night they drop to about 75 °F (24 °C). In winter, daytime temperatures are usually around 83 °F (28 °C). Sometimes snow falls on the highest mountains in winter.

Because of climate change, Hawaii is getting hotter and drier. The highest temperature ever recorded in Hawaii is 100 °F (38 °C), and the coldest is 12 °F (−11 °C).

History

Main article: History of Hawaii

Hawaiʻi is one of two U.S. states, along with Texas, that were countries before becoming states. The Kingdom of Hawaiʻi was a country from 1810 until 1893. After that, Hawaiʻi was an independent republic until August 12, 1898, when it became a U.S. territory. Hawaiʻi became a U.S. state on August 21, 1959.

First human settlement – Ancient Hawaiʻi (1000–1778)

Main article: Ancient Hawaii

The history of the Hawaiian Islands started with Polynesian explorers arriving from places like the Marquesas Islands or Tahiti. These early people built homes, grew food, and created a rich culture with stories and beliefs about the land and sea. Local leaders, called aliʻi, guided their people.

Kingdom of Hawaiʻi

In the late 1700s, a leader named Kamehameha united most of the islands and created the Hawaiian Kingdom. Over time, new leaders and outside influences changed the kingdom. Missionaries brought new ideas and religions, which mixed with Hawaiian traditions.

Annexation – Territory of Hawaiʻi (1898–1959)

After becoming a U.S. territory, Hawaiʻi saw many changes. New people from around the world came to work, bringing their own cultures and traditions. In 1941, the islands were attacked, which led the United States into World War II.

Political changes of 1954 – State of Hawaiʻi (1959–present)

In 1959, Hawaiʻi became the 50th state of the United States. Since then, the islands have grown, with a strong focus on preserving Hawaiian culture and traditions. The state works to balance new development with respect for its historic lands and heritage.

Demographics

See also: Hawaii statistical areas

When Europeans and mainland Americans first arrived during the Kingdom of Hawaii period, the number of people in Hawaii dropped. Many Indigenous Hawaiians died from diseases they had never faced before. The population fell from about 300,000 in the 1770s to just 60,000 in the 1850s, and then to 24,000 in 1920. The population of Hawaii began to grow again when many Asian settlers came to work as laborers in the late 1800s. By 1923, 42% of the people were of Japanese descent, 9% were of Chinese descent, and 16% were Native Hawaiian.

Hawaii's population has been going down since 2020. The high cost of living and needing to bring in supplies are big reasons people move to the U.S. mainland. Climate change, like more droughts and wildfires, is also a reason. In 2010, 156,000 people said they were only of Native Hawaiian ancestry. An additional 371,000 said they had Native Hawaiian ancestry along with other races.

In 2018, the United States Census Bureau said the population of Hawaii was 1,420,491. This was a small drop from the year before but a bit higher than in 2010. The center of population for Hawaii is on the island of Oʻahu. Oʻahu is the most crowded island, with almost one million people living there.

Hawaii has over 1.4 million people, including many military members and tourists. The average life for people born in Hawaii in 2000 was 79.8 years.

In 2018, the top countries where immigrants in Hawaii came from were the Philippines, China, Japan, Korea, and the Marshall Islands.

Ancestry

Further information: Native Hawaiians, White Americans in Hawaii, Filipinos in Hawaii, and Japanese in Hawaii

Hawaii has the most Asian Americans and multiracial Americans of any state. It is the only state where Asian Americans are the biggest group. In 2012, 14.5% of babies under age 1 were non-Hispanic white. Hawaii's Asian population includes Filipino, Japanese, Chinese, and Korean Americans.

Over 120,000 Hispanic and Latino Americans live in Hawaii. Multiracial Americans make up almost 25% of the population. There are more than 80,000 Indigenous Hawaiians. The five largest European groups are German, Irish, English, Portuguese, and Italian.

Languages

English and Hawaiian are Hawaii's official languages. However, Hawaiian is not used much because laws say it only needs to be used in specific cases. Hawaiʻi Creole English, or "Pidgin", is widely spoken by many people.

In homes, 73.4% of people speak only English. Other languages spoken include Tagalog, Ilocano, and Japanese.

Hawaiian

The Hawaiian language has about 2,000 native speakers. It is part of the Austronesian language family and is related to other Polynesian languages.

Before Captain James Cook arrived, Hawaiian had no written form. American Protestant missionaries created a written form between 1820 and 1826. Interest in Hawaiian grew in the late 20th century. Special schools were made to teach subjects in Hawaiian.

Hawaiian Pidgin

Hawaiian Pidgin, officially Hawaiʻi Creole English, emerged in the 19th century to help different groups communicate on sugarcane plantations. It is based mainly on English but includes words from Hawaiian, Chinese, Japanese, Portuguese, Ilocano, and Tagalog.

By the early 20th century, children of plantation workers began speaking Hawaiian Pidgin as their first language. It includes Hawaiian words and some English words with different meanings.

In 2015, the U.S. Census Bureau recognized Hawaiian Pidgin as an official language in Hawaii.

Hawaiʻi Sign Language

Hawaiʻi Sign Language has been used in the islands since the early 1800s but is now less common.

Religion

See also: Kapu (Hawaiian culture), List of figures in the Hawaiian religion, and List of missionaries to Hawaii

Christianity is the main religion, with many Protestant and Catholic groups. Buddhism is also common, especially among the Japanese community. Native Hawaiians still practice traditional beliefs along with Christianity.

Birth data

Note: Births in this table do not add up, because Hispanic peoples are counted both by their ethnicity and by their race, giving a higher overall number.

Percentage surviving

Main article: List of U.S. states and territories by life expectancy § Data of the United States Mortality DataBase

LGBTQ people

See also: LGBTQ rights in Hawaii

Hawaii has a history of LGBTQIA+ identities. Traditional roles existed, and relationships were normal in ancient Hawaiian society.

In 2013, Hawaii became the fifteenth U.S. state to legalize same-sex marriage.

Economy

See also: Agriculture in Hawaii, Sugar plantations in Hawaii, Big Five (Hawaii), and Plantation economy

The economy of Hawaii has changed a lot over time. In the past, items like sandalwood and whaling were important. Later, sugarcane and pineapple became very important. By the 1840s, sugar plantations grew strong because many people in the United States wanted sugar, and steamships made it easier to send goods quickly. American families and businessmen, called "the Big Five", controlled most of the sugar business and earned a lot of money.

Today, tourism is the biggest part of Hawaii's economy. Since Hawaii became a state in 1959, tourism has grown a lot and helps the economy. Other important parts of the economy include farming, with products like coffee, macadamia nuts, and honey, and the military, which also spends money in the state.

The cost of living in Hawaii is high. For example, electricity prices are higher than in most other places in the United States. Homes in Hawaii also cost more to buy. This is because shipping goods to Hawaii is expensive, and there are fewer large stores and businesses here compared to places on the U.S. mainland. Many things in Hawaii cost more because they have to be shipped long distances.

Culture

Main article: Culture of the Native Hawaiians

The culture of Hawaii comes from the Polynesians who lived there long ago. It is the farthest north in the Polynesian Triangle in the Pacific Ocean. Today, many traditions and ceremonies are still celebrated on the islands. Some customs, like the lūʻau and the dance called hula, are well-known even in other parts of the United States.

Main article: Cuisine of Hawaii

The food in Hawaii is a mix of many different kinds of foods brought by people from many places. Early Polynesians, Native Hawaiians, and people from places like China, Japan, Korea, and Portugal all added their own dishes. One traditional food is poi, made from a plant called taro. Local restaurants often serve a plate lunch with rice, a special salad, and different main dishes like hamburger patties or loco moco. Spam musubi shows how foods from different cultures mixed together in Hawaii.

Main article: Customs and etiquette in Hawaii

In Hawaii, it is polite to bring a small gift, like dessert, when visiting someone's home. People usually take off their shoes before going inside. Families often celebrate a child's first birthday with a party called a luau. At weddings, especially Filipino weddings, the couple often does a fun dance called the money dance or pandanggo. People who are not from Hawaiian families are called "locals of Hawaii" or "people of Hawaii."

Hawaiian stories and legends are part of the mythology from ancient times. These tales are related to stories from other Polynesian cultures but have their own special style. Important figures in these stories include Aumakua, spirits of ancestors, and Kāne, one of the main gods.

Main article: Polynesian mythology

Polynesian mythology includes the stories and traditions of people from many islands in the Pacific Ocean. These stories talk about old times and adventures of gods and important ancestors. The languages and cultures of these people share many similarities.

Main article: List of Hawaiian state parks

Hawaii has many beautiful state parks where people can go to explore and enjoy nature. Each island has its own special places to visit.

Main article: Literature in Hawaii

Hawaii has many writers who tell stories in different ways. Some well-known writers from Hawaii include Kiana Davenport, Lois-Ann Yamanaka, and Kaui Hart Hemmings. There are also magazines like Hana Hou! and Hawaii Business.

Main article: Music of Hawaii

Music in Hawaii includes both old and new styles. Traditional music often has singing and dancing, while today there is also rock and hip hop. One special style is slack-key guitar, and Hawaiian music has influenced movies and even country music with the steel guitar. A famous musician from Hawaii is Israel Kamakawiwoʻole, known for singing "Somewhere Over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World."

Because Hawaii is far from the rest of the United States, most sports teams there are for young people, college students, or amateur players. College sports events like the Maui Invitational Tournament and Hawaii Bowl are popular. The Hawaii Rainbow Warriors and Rainbow Wahine is the only college team in the top level of college sports in Hawaii.

Surfing is very important in Hawaiian culture and has been for many years. Hawaii is famous for surfing and holds big competitions like the Triple Crown of Surfing. The islands have also produced great swimmers, such as Duke Kahanamoku.

Hawaii has hosted many big sports events, like golf tournaments, marathons, and triathlons. It has also been a place where many good fighters began their careers.

Tourism

Main article: Tourism in Hawaii

Tourism is very important to Hawaii. Many people visit the islands because the weather is nice all year.

Tourism can bring challenges. Sometimes, it can hurt the environment and make life harder for local people. During the COVID-19 pandemic, tourism stopped, and nature had a chance to recover. Some local people ask visitors to be careful and respectful. The islands host fun events like the Merrie Monarch Festival, a big hula competition, and film festivals.

Health

Hawaii has a health care system that helps people stay healthy. Most people in Hawaii have health insurance. Businesses must give insurance to workers who work more than twenty hours each week. Rules help keep insurance prices fair. Because the system focuses on preventing illness, Hawaiians spend less on health care. Some people in the United States look to Hawaii as an example for better health care for everyone.

Education

See also: List of elementary schools in Hawaii, List of middle schools in Hawaii, and List of high schools in Hawaii

Hawaii has one school system for the whole state. A group called the Board of Education makes the rules and hires the leader of the schools, called the superintendent. The schools are split into seven districts. Four districts are on the island of Oʻahu, and one district is on each of the other three islands.

Students in Hawaii take tests to see how well they are learning. Sometimes, the results are not as good as in other parts of the United States. But when students get ready for college, they often do well on a test called the ACT.

See also: List of colleges and universities in Hawaii

The biggest place for college students in Hawaii is the University of Hawaiʻi System. It has a big school on the island of Mānoa, two more schools on Hilo and West Oʻahu, and seven smaller colleges. There are also private colleges, like Brigham Young University–Hawaii, Chaminade University of Honolulu, Hawaii Pacific University, and Wayland Baptist University. There is also a school for training priests called Saint Stephen Diocesan Center.

Transportation

Main article: Transportation in Hawaii

See also: Hawaii Department of Transportation, List of airports in Hawaii, and Aviation in Hawaii

Hawaii has roads around each main island, but only Oʻahu has big highways. The roads can be narrow and twisty, and busy places might have a lot of traffic. Each big island has buses for people to ride.

The main airport is Daniel K. Inouye International Airport. It offers flights to many places in North America, Asia, Australia, and Oceania. Airlines like Hawaiian Airlines and Mokulele Airlines fly between the big airports on the islands.

In the past, people used boats to travel between the islands. There was a ferry service called the Hawaii Superferry, but it stopped because of problems. Today, there are ferry services in Maui County and cruise ships that visit the bigger islands.

Rail

Hawaii used to have many railroads, but most of them are gone now. There is a new elevated train called Skyline in Honolulu that started in 2023 to help with traffic. More parts of it will open in the future.

Governance

The Hawaiian royal family moved from Hawaiʻi Island to Maui, and then to Oʻahu. This helped shape where people live today. Kamehameha III chose Honolulu as the capital because of its natural harbor, Honolulu Harbor. Honolulu is now the state capital, found along the southeast coast of Oʻahu. Before that, capitals were Lahaina on Maui and Kailua-Kona on Hawaiʻi.

Hawaii has five counties: the City and County of Honolulu, Hawaiʻi County, Maui County, Kauaʻi County, and Kalawao County. Unlike many states, Hawaii does not have many local governments. Most are run at the county level. The only area with both a city and a county is Honolulu County, which covers the whole island of Oʻahu. Each county has a mayor who is elected by voters.

Hawaii’s state government has three parts, just like the federal government: executive, legislative, and judicial. The governor leads the executive branch, helped by the lieutenant governor. The Hawaii State Legislature has two houses: the Hawaii House of Representatives and the Hawaii Senate. The state’s highest court is the Supreme Court of Hawaii.

Hawaii has two senators and two representatives in the United States Congress. They are all members of the Democratic Party. Brian Schatz and Mazie Hirono serve as senators, while Ed Case and Jill Tokuda are the representatives.

Main article: Politics of Hawaii

See also: Political party strength in Hawaii and United States presidential elections in Hawaii

Hawaiian sovereignty movement

Some people in Hawaii think the way Hawaii joined the United States was not fair. They believe Hawaii should have the right to choose its own future, either as an independent country or with special rights for people of native Hawaiian ancestry. These ideas have been talked about in schools and universities for many years.

Groups supporting these ideas have been active since the late 1800s. They often talk about events from 1893, when the Kingdom of Hawaii was overthrown, and later when Hawaii became a part of the United States. Some think these actions were wrong and that Hawaii should have more self-governance or even become fully independent.

International sister relationships

Hawaii has many friends around the world. These places are called sister relationships. They work together and share ideas. Some of these friends are in Japan, like Ehime, Fukuoka, Hiroshima, Hokkaido, Okinawa, and Yamaguchi. Other friends are in China, South Korea, Taiwan, the Philippines, Morocco, Portugal, Indonesia, and India. These relationships started at different times, beginning in 1981 and continuing today.