The Hawaiian flag consists of eight red, white, and blue stripes that represent the eight main islands of the state (Hawaii, Oahu, Kauai, Kahoolawe, Lānai, Maui, Molokai and Niihau). In the upper left-hand corner of the flag is a Union Jack symbol, which is the United Kingdom's official flag. The Hawaiian flag is essentially a hybrid of the United States' and United Kingdom's flags, which was an attempt by King Kamehameha to avoid conflict between the two countries.

Hawaiian Flag History

Commissioned by King Kamehameha the Great, the Hawaiian flag has represented the Hawaiian nation and state from 1816 to the present. It was recommissioned on May 20, 1845, by King Kamehameha III and dedicated as the Hawaiian flag at the opening of the Kingdom's Legislature.

Flag History

The Hawaiian flag has been the flag of a kingdom, protectorate, republic, territory, and state. It is the only state flag of the United States to have been flown under so many various forms of government and the only state flag to feature the Union Jack of the United Kingdom.

Union Jack

The British originally "discovered" the island, with Capt. James Cook making two voyages to the islands in 1778 and 1779.

Hawaiian ali'i

The Union Jack has a double meaning for the Hawaiian people, because it also represents a stylized puela (a triangular standard lying across two crossed spears called an alia) which is the symbol of the Hawaiian ali'i, or chiefs.

Stripes

From the top down, the flag's stripe colors follow this sequence: white, red, blue, white, red, blue, white, red. The colors were standardized in 1843, although other combinations have been seen and are occasionally still used. Originally, the flag was designed with seven horizontal stripes, and in 1845 it was officially changed to eight stripes. This arrangement was later adopted and is used today.

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Hawaii