Welcome to the Aloha State! When it comes to state symbols, Hawaii may be #1. Why such a small state needs three official mammals is anyone’s guess. However, Hawaii still has less symbols than most states, and they paint a uniquely beautiful picture. (Continued below)
| Nicknames & Slogans | |||
| Nicknames | The Aloha State, Paradise of the Pacific, Youngest State, Pineapple State | 1959 | |
| Symbols of State | |||
| Motto | Ua Mau ke Ea o ka Aina i ka Pono | 1843 | > |
| Anthem | Hawai`i Pono`î | 1967 | > |
| EcoSymbols | |||
| Flower | Pua Aloalo (yellow hibiscus) (Hibiscus brackenridgei) | 1988 | > |
| Tree | kukui (Aleurites moluccanus) | 1959 | > |
| Endemic Tree | ohia lehua (Metrosideros polymorpha) | 2022 | > |
| Plant | kalo (Colocasia esculenta) | 2007 | > |
| Bird | nene or Hawaiian goose (Branta sandvicensis) | 1988 | > |
| Land Mammal | Hawaiian hoary bat (Lasiurus cinereus semotus) | 2015 | > |
| Mammal | Hawaiian monk seal (Monachus schauinslandi) | 2008 | > |
| Marine Mammal | humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) | 1979 | > |
| Fish | Humuhumunukunukuapua`a or Hawaiian trigger fish (Rhinecanthus rectangulus) | 1985 | > |
| Insect | Kamehameha butterfly (Vanessa tameamea) | 2009 | > |
| Gem | black coral (Antipathidae) | 1987 | > |
| Soil | Hilo (unofficial)  |
> | |
| Cultural Symbols | |||
| Individual Sport | surfing | 1998 | > |
| Team Sport | Outrigger Canoe Paddling | 1986 | > |
| Language | Hawaiian | 1978 | > |
| (Code or Philosophy?) | Aloha Spirit | 1986 | > |
| Tartan | 2008 | > | |
| Order of Merit | Aloha Order of Merit | 1993 | > |
| Dance | hula | 1999 | > |
| Kahiko (Traditional) Musical Instrument | pahu | 2015 | > |
| Auana (Modern) Musical Instrument | ukulele | 2016 | > |
Hawaii’s nicknames include Paradise of the Pacific, Youngest State and Pineapple State. However, its official nickname is The Aloha State.
That’s a reminder that Hawaii’s official language is Hawaiian. What a refreshing change from the states who call English their official language!
None of Hawaii’s state symbols represent any other state. In fact, some of them are found nowhere else but Hawaii.
One of my favorite Hawaiian symbols is its state soil, which may be linked to the Himalayas and Genghis Khan’s conquering hordes. Sadly, Hawaiians can probably never adopt an official state fossil, though. Do you know why?
In other news, did you know Hawaii was just a colony when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor? Do you think the islands will ever be returned to the Hawaiian people?
If you think state flags and flowers are nothing more than trivia, guess again. A thorough exploration of the more than 1,500 items adopted as state symbols embraces geography, history, and psychology.
You have found the best state symbols website, but it’s just the tip of the iceberg. The introduction above is adapted from Geobop’s State Symbols and My State Symbols Book, by far the biggest and most detailed state symbols references ever. You can learn still more about the symbols of the 50 states in the books Flag Quest and Grading the States. (Learn more about them here.)
After you spend some time exploring your favorite state’s symbols, you can come back here and tell us what you think about them.
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