Hawaii

American  

[huh-wahy-ee, -wah-, -wah-yuh, hah-vah-ee] / həˈwaɪ i, -ˈwɑ-, həˈwɑ jə, hɑˈvɑ i /

Or Hawai'i

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 the Big Island, 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.

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Hawaii British  

/ həˈwaɪɪ /

noun

1. Abbreviation: Ha, HI. Former name: Sandwich Islands. 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)

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Hawaii Cultural  

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.

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Spelling

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.

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Location of Pearl Harbor.

Fiftieth state, admitted in 1959.

Etymology

Origin of Hawaii

From Hawaiian Hawai'i

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Compare meaning

How does hawaii compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• Alaska vs. Hawaii

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Hawaii

The couple, who are in their mid-50s, said in their dispatches that they had sold their car-rental company on Maui, Hawaii, and paid $100,000 for a 144-square-foot cabin on the Odyssey.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 28, 2026

The resulting disturbances produced spectacular auroras, commonly known as the northern lights, that appeared as far south as Hawaii and Central America.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 21, 2026

In September 2024, FBI agents flew to Hawaii for what would be their final interview with Kao.

From Salon ● Oct. 20, 2026

Obama released two records proving he had been born in Hawaii.

From BBC ● Oct. 19, 2026

Hawaii was also unique within Polynesia in using mass labor for aquaculture, by constructing large fishponds in which milkfish and mullet were grown.

From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond

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