Hawaiis

Hawaiis is not a standard term in formal usage. The correct names are Hawaii for the U.S. state and Hawaiʻi for the archipelago in the central Pacific. When referring to the indigenous people, the standard term is Hawaiians. The plural form Hawaiis is uncommon and generally avoided in scholarly or official writing.

The Hawaiian Islands form an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, about 2,400 miles from the U.S. mainland. Eight main islands—Hawaiʻi (the Big Island), Maui, Oʻahu, Kauaʻi, Molokaʻi, Lānaʻi, Niʻihau, and Kahoʻolawe—compose the inhabited core, along with numerous smaller islets. The islands were created by volcanic activity over a hotspot; Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa on Hawaiʻi are among the planet’s tallest mountains when measured from their bases. The climate is tropical with diverse microclimates, ranging from lush valleys to arid coastlines.

Hawaiian settlement occurred by the first millennium CE, with significant contact after Europeans arrived in the late 18th century. The Kingdom of Hawaiʻi was established in 1810, later overthrown in 1893. The islands were annexed by the United States in 1898, became a territory, and achieved statehood in 1959. The capital and largest city is Honolulu, located on Oʻahu.

Population is diverse, with Native Hawaiian, Asian, and other ancestries. Official languages are English and Hawaiian (Hawaiʻi); Hawaiian language education and revival programs operate statewide. Hawaiian culture includes traditional practices such as hula and mele, alongside a modern blend of influences in music, cuisine, and art.

Key economic sectors include tourism, defense, and agriculture, with products ranging from historical crops like pineapple to a diverse modern economy. Environmental concerns cover invasive species, watershed management, reef protection, and natural hazards such as volcanic eruptions, tropical storms, and tsunamis.