Hawaii

or Ha·wai·'i

[ huh-wahy-ee, -wah-; Hawaiian -wah-yuh, hah-vah-ee ]

noun

1. a state of the United States comprising the northern Pacific islands of Hawaii, Kahoolawe, Kauai, Lanai, Maui, Molokai, Niihau, and Oahu: a U.S. territory 1900–59; admitted to the Union 1959. 6,424 sq. mi. (16,715 sq. km). : Honolulu. : HI (for use with zip code), Haw.
2. Official_name Island of Hawaii. Also called Hawaii Island,. the largest island of Hawaii, in the southeastern part of the state. 4,028 sq. mi. (10,430 sq. km).
3. Kingdom of Hawaii. the Hawaiian Kingdom.

Hawaii

/ həˈwaɪɪ /

noun

1. a state of the US in the central Pacific, consisting of over 20 volcanic islands and atolls, including Hawaii, Maui, Oahu, Kauai, and Molokai: discovered by Captain Cook in 1778; annexed by the US in 1898; naval base at Pearl Harbor attacked by the Japanese in 1941, a major cause of US entry into World War II; became a state in 1959. Capital: Honolulu. Pop: 1 257 608 (2003 est). Area: 16 640 sq km (6425 sq miles) Former nameSandwich Islands AbbreviationHawith zip codeHI

Hawaii

1. State located in the Pacific Ocean southwest of the mainland United States; consists mainly of a chain of eight islands, including Hawaii, the largest, and Oahu, location of Honolulu , the state's capital and largest city.

Spelling Note

Hawaii and Hawai'i are used interchangeably, with Hawaii being predominant, especially in government. It is conventional for departments of the state to use Hawaii in letterheads, seals, flags, signs, forms, licenses, and other official documents. It is not, however, unusual to find Hawai'i within the text of a letter, report, etc., that has Hawaii in the letterhead or seal.

Notes

Location of Pearl Harbor .

Fiftieth state, admitted in 1959.

Word History and Origins

Origin of Hawaii¹

From Hawaiian Hawai'i

Example Sentences

President Rhee resigned soon thereafter and was secreted out of the country to Hawaii by the American CIA.

From The Daily Beast

At his year-end, pre-Hawaii press conference, we caught a rare glimpse of peak Obama.

From The Daily Beast

He said he uses the quiet time at night to ponder a move to Puerto Rico or maybe Hawaii.

From The Daily Beast

In pre-contact Hawaii, he reminds us, all land belonged to the king.

From The Daily Beast

California died in 1997 while rescuing his son from drowning in Hawaii.

From The Daily Beast

Then she answered with a pained and half-terrified air, "Nobody in Hawaii will give you any assistance."

From Project Gutenberg

Twenty-four natives were shipped at Hawaii, twelve for the crew and twelve for the new settlement.

From Project Gutenberg

At the end of two months he learned that Greenfield had shipped as a common sailor on a freighter that touched at Hawaii.

From Project Gutenberg

The nomenclature is found particularly on the island of Hawaii, though it also occurs in Micronesian territory.

From Project Gutenberg

He had friends in government, business, unions, guilds and clubs and leagues from Maine to Hawaii.

From Project Gutenberg