Hawaii is the most ethnically and racially diverse state of any state in the union, a mix that includes Caucasians, Americans of Japanese descent, and Polynesians, among others. Native Hawaiians have held on to many of their customs and traditions despite the influx of non-natives over the years. Hawaii is the only state that has an official native language. Statehood had been proposed many times throughout Hawaii's history, but it was not until 1959 that Hawaii became the 50th state of the United States.

THE NAME: Though Captain James Cook called the islands that he discovered in 1778 the Sandwich islands, this honor to the Earl of Sandwich would be short-lived. King Kamehameha I united the islands under his rule by 1819 as the Kingdom of Hawaii. A couple of theories exist on the origin of the name Hawaii. One theory has it that the name comes from a combination of the words "Hawa" and "ii" and means a small or new homeland; "Hawa" meaning a traditional homeland and "ii" meaning small and raging. The other theory is that the name comes from the traditional discoverer of the islands, Hawaii Loa. Source: Shearer, Benjamin F. and Barbara S. State Names, Seals, Flags and Symbols Greenwood Press, Westport, Connecticut - 1994

THE NICKNAMES: Hawaii: The Aloha State The Aloha State: (Official Popular Name) This official "Popular Name" was designated in 1959 by the Legislature of the State. This was adopted in the same year in which Hawaii became a state. The Pineapple State: Hawaii has also been referred to as "The Pineapple State" because of the pineapple industry and its impact on the state's economy. Paradise of the Pacific: Anyone who has ever visited a secluded cove on one of the Hawaiian islands will understand why Hawaii is sometimes called the "Paradise of the Pacific." The natural beauty of the islands is well known. The Youngest State: The last state to enter the union, Hawaii is sometimes referred to as "The Youngest State." Source: Shearer, Benjamin F. and Barbara S. State Names, Seals, Flags and Symbols Greenwood Press, Westport, Connecticut - 1994 Shankle, George Earlie, Phd State Names, Flags, Seals, Songs, Birds, Flowers and Other Symbols H. H. Wilson Company, New York - 1938 (Reprint)

THE CITIZENS: People who live in Hawaii or who come from Hawaii are not all referred to as Hawaiians. Dictionaries have described Hawaiians as natives or residents of the State of Hawaii. Increasingly, however, this broad terminology has given way to a distinctive division between indigenous or native Hawaiians and non-natives. Today, the term Hawaiians is generally reserved for those people who are indigenous or native people of the Hawaiian Islands. What is a Hawaiian native? According Section 3, Definitions, of Senate Bill No. 147, March 2005, sponsored by Senator Daniel Akaka, (1) ABORIGINAL, INDIGENOUS, NATIVE PEOPLE. — The term "aboriginal, indigenous, native people" means people whom Congress has recognized as the original inhabitants of the lands that later became part of the United States and who exercised sovereignty in the areas that later became part of the United States. In 2005, the Associated Press updated its stylebook to reflect these distinctions. According to an article in the Hawaii Star-Bulletin, "From now on, Hawaiians will be used only to describe members of the ethnic group indigenous to the Hawaiian Islands. 'Hawaii resident' or 'islander' describes anyone who lives in the state." People who are native to Hawaii are called Hawaiians. People who live in Hawaii but are not native Hawaiians, even if born in the state, are referred to as Hawaii residents.

THE QUARTER: The image to the left is the "obverse" side of all 50 States Quarters and features a portrait of George Washington. The State Quarter designs are displayed on the "reverse" side of the quarter. The Hawaii State Quarter has not been released yet. It's due in 2008. For more on the state commemorative quarters, visit this page. This 50 State Quarter Map is a great way to collect and display all 50 State Quarters.