About Hawaii
Hawaii is unlike any other state in the Union, and not just because it is made entirely of islands rising from the middle of the Pacific Ocean. It is the only state with two official languages, the only state that was once a recognized sovereign kingdom, and the only state whose history includes a formal U.S. congressional apology for the role American forces played in overthrowing its government.
Admitted as the 50th state on August 21, 1959, Hawaii was a U.S. territory for 61 years before statehood. The islands had been a recognized independent kingdom for much of the 19th century, maintaining diplomatic relations with the United States, Great Britain, and France before being annexed following the 1893 overthrow of Queen Liliuokalani.
Today, Hawaii is one of America's most visited destinations, and one of its most expensive places to live. The state grapples with the tensions between tourism and quality of life, military presence and indigenous sovereignty, and economic dependency on the mainland and a desire for greater self-sufficiency. The spirit of aloha, a Hawaiian concept encompassing love, peace, compassion, and a mutual regard for all, remains the cultural touchstone of a state that is still working out what it means to be both American and Hawaiian.
The Four Main Islands
Hawaii has eight main islands, each with its own character, landscape, and ecosystem. Four define the state's identity.
Economy
Hawaii's economy rests on tourism and the military, with agriculture, research, and entertainment adding diversification, though the state has long sought to reduce its dependence on any single sector.
