Hawaii
Hawaii is a state of the United States of America. It is the 50th state to join. Hawaii became a state on August 29, 1959. It is also the only state made only of islands. Hawaii is also the name of the largest island.The capital city of Hawaii is Honolulu.
Hawaii is known as the "Aloha State". Aloha is a Hawaiian word that has several meanings used in welcome, greeting, farewell and for love and liking. The different meanings are brought together in the term "Aloha Spirit" which is supposed to stand for the friendliness and welcoming nature of the people.
The state flower is the yellow hibiscus (Hibiscus brackenridgei or ma'o hau hele). The state bird is the Hawaiian goose (nene). The state fish is the Picasso triggerfish (humuhumunukunukuapua'a)). The state tree is the candlenut (kukui). The state song is Hawaii Ponoi. The state motto is Ua mau ke ea o ka aina i ka pono (The life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness).
The first people of Hawaii were Polynesians. They came to the islands sometime between 200 and 600 AD. Captain James Cook is given credit for discovering the islands for the Europeans in 1778. Others may have been there before him. Captain Cook named the islands the Sandwich Islands for the fourth Earl of Sandwich, John Montague.
Kamehameha I was the first king of Hawaii. He united the Hawaiian tribes in 1795. In 1893, Queen Liliuokalani was made to stop ruling. She was the last monarch of Hawaii. She also wrote the original words of the song Aloha Oe.
Hawaii was a republic for a short time. In 1898, it became a territory of the United States.
Hawaii is made of a long chain of islands. There are eight main islands and many small islands and atolls. They are the tops of underwater volcanoes. The main islands are Niihau, Kauai, Oahu, Molokai, Lanai, Kahoolawe, Maui and Hawaii.
The biggest industry of Hawaii is tourism. Almost 7 million people visited in 2000. Important exports are sugar, pineapple, macadamia nuts and coffee.
Popular tourist sites include Waikiki Beach, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Polynesian Cultural Center and the USS Arizona Monument at Pearl Harbor.