Hawaii

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Pacific state of the USA, the only island state, separate from the North American continent and the world's longest island chain, made up of 8 main islands and 124 islets and reefs; area 16,635 sq km/6,423 sq mi; population (2000) 1,211,500; capital Honolulu on Oahu. It was officially nicknamed the Aloha State in 1959, after the Hawaiian greeting. The island group is surrounded by the Pacific Ocean and the east end is 3,400 km/2,100 mi southwest of California. The Tropic of Cancer passes through the islands. Tourism is the biggest industry in Hawaii; other important industries are manufacturing and agriculture, with sugar the most important export. Major towns and cities include Hilo, Kailua, Kaneohe, and Waipahu. Settled over a thousand years ago by Polynesian immigrants, the islands remained largely unknown until their discovery by English explorer James Cook in 1778. King Kamehameha I united the Hawaiian islands into an internationally recognized kingdom in 1793. In the course of the next century, Hawaii evolved from a kingdom, to a republic, to a US territory, and finally a US state, developing a thriving economy from the harvesting of pineapple and sugar cane. Hawaii made world history on 7 December 1941 when Japanese pilots attacked Pearl Harbor, drawing the USA into World War II. Named after its largest island, Hawaii became the 50th state of the Union in 1959.

Blue recalls the sea and the sky. Green symbolizes the earth. The red star represents unity. White stands for peace. Effective date: 27 June 1977. >>