There are 2 ways of answering this question. Either it is part of Oceania, like Australia, New Zealand and Polynesia. Or it is not part of any continent, being a 'floating' archipelago that is drifting on the Pacific tectonic plate as it moves northwestward. So the answer depends partly on how you define the term 'continent.' --- Answers 101 - does this mean that before 1867, Alaska was part of Asia but after 1867, it somehow moved to North America?? 'Continent' is a geographic or geological term, not a political one. There is no universal consensus about the definition of the word, but definitions mainly cluster around the concept of landmass and most include things like boundaries like mountain ranges, subduction zones and continental shelves. Hawaii is way beyond the continental shelf of North America.

north america

2 ways to answer: A country, state or island does not have to be physically landlocked to be part of a continent, i.e. Japan. Most people would consider that it is part of whatever continent's its governing body is; thus, your answer is North America. However, I believe that all islands excluding Japan and Australia are not part of the 7 recognized continents instead make up a collective unit of land as an 8th continent. The problem with that theory is that they are too spread out to consider them another continent.

Hawaii is part of Oceania, Japan and Alaska are part of Asia.

good question!!!! since it was formed by volcanic action not continental drift it was never part of another land mass

I don't think it's a part of any of them.

I can drive to alaska from B.C. without going over any bridges.

Hawaii is not part of any continent. It is situated in Polynesia, a subregion of Oceania. 1) "This state encompasses nearly the entirety of the volcanic Hawaiian Island chain, which is made up of hundreds of islands spread over 1,500 miles (2,400 km). At the southeastern end of the archipelago, the eight "main islands" are (from the northwest to southeast) NiÊ»ihau, KauaÊ»i, OÊ»ahu, MolokaÊ»i, LānaÊ»i, KahoÊ»olawe, Maui, and HawaiÊ»i. The last is by far the largest, and is often called the "Big Island" or "Big Isle" to avoid confusion with the state as a whole. This archipelago is physiographically and ethnologically part of the Polynesian subregion of Oceania." "Hawaii is the only state of the entire United States that - is not located in North America - is completely surrounded by water - has a royal palace - does not have a straight line in its state boundary - continuously grows in area (due to currently active lava flows, most notably from Kilauea (KÄ«lauea).)" Source and further information: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawaii 2) "At about 1,860 miles (3,000 km) from the nearest continent, the Hawaiian Island archipelago is the most isolated grouping of islands on Earth." Source and further information: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawaiian_Islands 3) "Oceania (sometimes Oceanica) is a geographical, often geopolitical, region consisting of numerous lands—mostly islands in the Pacific Ocean and vicinity. The term is often used in many languages to define one of the continents and is one of eight terrestrial ecozones. Ethnologically, the islands that are included in Oceania are divided into the subregions of Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia. The exact scope of Oceania is variably defined: it generally includes New Zealand, is often taken to include parts of Australasia such as Australia and New Guinea, and sometimes all or part of the Malay Archipelago." "Hawaii is the northern corner of the Polynesian triangle and is generally included in Oceania, though politically it is part of the United States. The Hawaiian language is a Polynesian member of the Oceanic language family, and Hawaiian culture is one of the major cultures of Polynesia." Source and further information: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oceania#Interpretative_details_and_controversies 4) "Oceania is a geopolitical region, rather than a continent, consisting of many countries in the Pacific Ocean, including those in the continent of Australia and the Pacific Islands." "United States: North America; Hawaii in Oceania." Source and further information: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_continent#Oceania

Hawaii is geographically part of Oceania, culturally part of Polynesia, but politically part of North America.

Wow there are so many stupid people. Being a part of a country does not determine the continent on which it is located. The British Empire once ruled what is now the United States. Does that mean the United States was on the European continent?