Hawaii State Flag

Adopted in 1894.

The state flag of Hawaii was adopted in 1894. Hawaii's state flag resembles the Union Jack of Great Britain because many of King Kamehameha's advisors were British and the islands were once placed under England's protection. The flag consists of eight horizontal stripes, representing the eight major islands, and the British Union Jack. It has served as the flag of the kingdom, republic, territory, and the state of Hawaii.

Hawaii, an independent kingdom (1810 - 1893)

Before the English explorer Captain James Cook came to the Hawaiian Islands in 1776, the Hawaiians did not use flags. They instead displayed distinctive marks. In 1794, King Kamehameha of Hawaii was given a British flag by Captain George Vancouver. It is believed that he was the first to raise a flag in Hawaii.  Until 1816, Hawaii was under British protection. 

The flag was designed at the request of King Kamehameha I. It has eight stripes of white, red and blue that represent the eight main islands. The flag of Great Britain is emblazoned in the upper left corner to honor Hawaii's friendship with the British.

Chronology:

• 1794-1816 Hawaii flew Union Jack as its National Flag
• 1816-1843 Hawaii flew early version of present flag
• 25 Feb - 31 July 1843 British occupation; all Hawaiian Flags were destroyed
• 31 July 1843 King Kamehameha III spoke his famous prayer of thanksgiving, a part of which serves today as the State Motto while a Hawaiian Flag that included a dove and olive branch was hoisted.
• 20 May 1845 present Hawaiian Flag adopted
• 1 Feb - 1 April 1893 US Flag flown in Hawaii
• 1894 Republic of Hawaii readopts Hawaiian Flag
• 1898-1959 Territory of Hawaii uses Hawaiian Flag (confirmed 1903)
• 1959-present State of Hawaii uses Hawaiian Flag (confirmed 1959)

Official description from Hawaii Revised Statutes Section 5-19. Description of the Hawaiian flag. The official description of the Hawaiian flag as authorized to represent the State of Hawaii on land and sea, and authorized for executive state agencies, second to the stars and stripes of the United States shall be:

1. The Hawaiian flag shall consist of eight horizontal stripes, alternately white, red, blue, etc., beginning at the top, having a jack cantoned in the dexter chief angle next to the point of suspension;
2. The jack shall consist of a blue field charged with a compound saltire (crossing) of alternate tincture white and red, the white having precedence; a narrow edge of white borders each red side of the saltire;
3. A red cross bordered with white is charged (placed) over all;
4. The proportion shall be as follows:
        (A) The fly (length) is twice the hoist (width);
        (B) The jack is half the hoist (width) in breadth and 7-16 the fly in length;
        (C) The arms of the red cross with border shall be equal in width to one of the horizontal stripes;
              the white border shall be one-third the width of the red cross;
        (D) The arms of the compound saltire (crossing) are equal in width to the red cross, the tinctures
              white, red, and the border being in the proportion of 3, 2, 1, respectively.