Unusually, Hawaii’s flag bears the Union Jack in its canton, a legacy of ties to Britain, with stripes of white, red and blue flowing across. It is the only U.S. state flag with a foreign emblem, a reminder of the islands’ distinct monarchy and history before annexation. The flag has been in use since 1845.
Union Jack in canton with eight horizontal red, white, and blue stripes.
Ratio: 2:3
Flag Statute
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; the jack shall consist of a blue field charged with a compound saltire of alternate tincture white and red, the white having precedence, a narrow edge of white bordering each red side of the saltire; a red cross bordered with white is charged over all; the proportions shall be that the fly is twice the hoist, the jack is half the hoist in breadth and 7/16 the fly in length, the arms of the red cross with border are equal in width to one of the horizontal stripes with the white border one-third the width of the red cross, and the arms of the compound saltire are equal in width to the red cross with the tinctures white, red, and the border in the proportion of 3, 2, and 1, respectively.
Source: Hawaii Revised Statutes, § 5-19 (2024)
Flag at a Glance
- Designer
- King Kamehameha I
- Ratio
- 2:3
- Text on flag
- No
- Animals
- None listed
- Design type
- National-style flag with colonial canton
- Complexity
- 5/10
- Readability
- 8/10
- Seal-based design
- No
Colors used
State Motto
“Ua Mau ke Ea o ka ʻĀina i ka Pono ("The Life of the Land Is Perpetuated in Righteousness")”
State Anthem
Hawaiʻi Ponoʻī (Hawaiʻi's Own True Sons)
Flag Symbolism
Union Jack
Represents historic relations with the United Kingdom.
Eight Stripes
Symbolize the eight major Hawaiian islands.
Design Breakdown
The Hawaii flag can be described in a simple build order. This is useful for students learning how flags are constructed.
- Start with the base field described in the construction.
- Add the main shapes first (large stripe, field divisions, or background forms).
- Place the primary symbol(s) in their main position(s) (centre, canton, etc.).
- Finish with details like text, small emblems, and final color fills.
Construction note: Union Jack in canton with eight horizontal red, white, and blue stripes.
What Makes This Flag Unique
A lot of state flags share common themes. This one stands out for a few reasons:
- Only U.S. state flag featuring the Union Jack
- Only state flag originally designed for a sovereign kingdom
- Explicitly represents island count through stripes
Praised and Criticised
Common praise
- Strong historical symbolism
- Clear representation of the islands
- Distinctive combination of British and American influences
Common criticism
- Union Jack can cause confusion about sovereignty
- Busy appearance compared to minimalist flags
Modern Discussion
Redesign debate: Yes
Common suggestions
- Remove the Union Jack
- Adopt indigenous Hawaiian symbols
- Use colors associated with Hawaiian royalty
Notable proposals
- Kanaka Maoli sovereignty flags
- Red-green-yellow independence flag variants
For Teachers & Students
Classroom-ready prompts, printables, and citation info for studying the Hawaii state flag.
Subjects
Learning objectives
- Identify unique features of Hawaii’s flag.
- Explain the symbolism of the Union Jack and island stripes.
Print this
Printable classroom handouts for this flag page.
Cite this page
Copy and paste a ready-made citation.
MLA
APA
Note: Citation formats can vary by school. These are common classroom defaults.
Seal Deep Dive
Union Jack
The Union Jack displayed in the canton (upper hoist corner).
Attributes: British Union Jack
Meaning: Historical ties to the United Kingdom and early alliances of the Hawaiian Kingdom
Stripes
Eight horizontal stripes alternating white, red, and blue.
Attributes: Eight stripes, White, red, and blue colors
Meaning: The eight main Hawaiian Islands
Historical Timeline
Flag adopted under King Kamehameha.
Hawaii admitted as 50th state.
Vexillology Notes
Design type: National-style flag with colonial canton
Complexity: 5/10
Readability: 8/10
Fascinating Facts
Only U.S. state flag with the Union Jack.
Eight stripes represent the islands.
The Union Jack reflects Hawaii’s historical ties to the United Kingdom.
The stripes symbolize the eight main Hawaiian Islands.
The colors red, white, and blue do not officially represent the United States.
The design dates back to the reign of King Kamehameha I.
The flag is known locally as the Ka Hae Hawaiʻi.
It is the only state flag that originated from a former kingdom.
State Information
- Population
- 1,455,271
- Area
- 10,932
- Founded
- 21 Aug 1959
- Region
- Pacific
