Hawaii

American

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

Or Hawai'i

noun

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.
Official Name Island of Hawaii. Also called the Big Island. Also called Hawaii Island,. the largest island of Hawaii, in the southeastern part of the state. 4,028 sq. mi. (10,430 sq. km).
Kingdom of Hawaii. the Hawaiian Kingdom.

Hawaii British

/ həˈwaɪɪ /

noun

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)

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Hawaii Cultural

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.

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.

Discover More

Location of Pearl Harbor.

Fiftieth state, admitted in 1959.

Etymology

Origin of Hawaii

From Hawaiian Hawai'i

Compare meaning

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

Alaska vs. Hawaii

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Her own introduction to pigs began in 2000, when she ordered one from Hawaii that was expected to reach 70 pounds.

From The Wall Street Journal

Up to 31,000 healthcare professionals in California and Hawaii are involved in the strike, which is the second to roil the medical provider in recent months.

From Los Angeles Times

Her customer base now stretches from Los Angeles to Mexico, Arizona, Hawaii and Texas.

From Los Angeles Times

She left the next day for Hawaii, where she had to be for work through August.

From Los Angeles Times

California, Hawaii, Texas and North Carolina accounted for the remaining U.S. incidents.

From Los Angeles Times

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023