Hawaii Theme
State of Hawaii
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| Nickname | The Aloha State |
|---|---|
| Motto | Ua Mau ke Ea o ka Aina i ka Pono “The Life of the Land is Perpetuated in Righteousness” |
| Demonym | Hawaiian |
| Capital | Honolulu |
| Largest city | Honolulu |
| Area | Ranked: 43rd in the US
Total: 10,931 sq miLength: 1,522 miles Water: 41.2% |
| Population | Ranked: 40th in the US
Total: 1,360,301 (2010)Density: 188.6/sq mi Median: income $63,746 (5th) |
| Elevation | Highest Point: Mauna Kea 13,796 ft Mean: 3,035 ft Lowest Point: Pacific Ocean 0 ft |
| Before statehood | Territory of Hawaii |
| Admission to Union | August 21, 1959 (50th) |
State Symbols
| Bird | Hawaiian Goose |
|---|---|
| Fish | Humuhumunukunukuapua’a |
| Flower | Hawaiian hibiscus |
| Mammal | Humpback whale |
| Reptile | Gold dust day gecko |
| Tree | Kukui nut tree |
| Food | Coconut muffin |
| Gemstone | Black coral |
| Slogan | The Islands of Aloha |
| Soil | Hilo |
| Song | Hawai’i Pono’i |
| Sport | Surfing, Outrigger canoeing |
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states (August 21, 1959), and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It occupies most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of Australia. Hawaii’s natural beauty, warm tropical climate, inviting waters and waves, and active volcanoes make it a popular destination for tourists, surfers, biologists, and volcanologists alike. Due to its mid-Pacific location, Hawaii has many North American and Asian influences along with its own vibrant native culture. Hawaii has over a million permanent residents along with many visitors and U.S. military personnel. Its capital is Honolulu on the island of O’ahu.
The state encompasses nearly the entire volcanic Hawaiian Island chain, which comprises hundreds of islands spread over 1,500 miles (2,400 km). At the southeastern end of the archipelago, the eight “main islands” are (from the northwest to southeast) Ni’ihau, Kaua’i, O’ahu, Moloka’i, Lana’i, Kaho’olawe, Maui, and Hawai’i. The last is by far the largest and is often called “The Big Island” to avoid confusion with the state as a whole. The archipelago is physiographically and ethnologically part of the Polynesian subregion of Oceania.
Silly Joke
When Hawaii became the 50th state in 1959, a woman rushed to the store to buy a new flag. “It’s very nice,” she said. “But does it come in other colors?”
Members
Now, time for a quick shout out to everyone on Atlas Quest from this state!
Letterboxing Cities
And, here are all of the cities in Hawaii we’ve hit with letterboxes!