Flag of Hawaii
The flag of Hawaii (Hawaiian: Ka Hae Hawaiʻi) is the official standard symbolizing Hawaii as a U.S. state, as it previously had as a kingdom, protectorate, republic, and territory. It is the only state flag of the United States to have been flown under so many various forms of government and the only to feature the Union Flag of the United Kingdom, a relic of the period Hawaii considered itself a British protectorate (1794–1843).
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Design
The canton of the flag of Hawaii contains the Union Flag of the United Kingdom, prominent over the top quarter closest to the flag mast. The field of the flag is composed of eight horizontal stripes symbolizing the eight major islands (Hawaiʻi, Oʻahu, Kauaʻi, Kahoʻolawe, Lānaʻi, Maui, Molokaʻi and Niʻihau). A ninth stripe was once included representing the island of Nihoa. The color of the stripes, from the top down, follows the sequence: white, red, blue, white, red, blue, white, red. The colors were standardized in 1843, although other combinations have been seen and are occasionally still used.[1][2]
Origins
There are various accounts of the earliest history of the flag of Hawaii. One relates how King Kamehameha I flew a British flag, probably a Red Ensign, given to him by British explorer Captain George Vancouver as a token of friendship with King George III. Subsequent visits reported seeing the flag flying from places of honor. An adviser to Kamehameha noted that the Union Flag could draw Hawaii into international conflict as his kingdom could be seen as an ally of the United Kingdom, and he subsequently lowered the Union Flag over his home. While disputed as historically accurate, one account of events that followed stated that in order to placate American interests during the War of 1812, a flag of the United States was raised over Kamehameha's home only to be removed when British officers in the court of Kamehameha vehemently objected to it. This account then explains why the resulting flag of Hawaii was a deliberate hybrid of the two nations' flags.[3]
In 1816, Kamehameha commissioned his own flag to avoid conflict. As a result, the current flag of Hawaii was born. Historians attribute its design to an officer of the Royal Navy, based on a form of the British naval flag. There is debate as to the name of the officer: some traditions credit Alexander Adams, others George Beckley. The original flag was designed to feature stripes alternating in the order red-white-blue, also attributed to various historical flags of the United Kingdom. However, some have argued that the stripes were influenced by the flag of the United States. The flag used at the first official flying of the flag of Hawaii erroneously placed the stripes in the order white-red-blue.[4] The number of stripes also changed: originally, the flag was designed with seven horizontal stripes, and in 1845 it was officially changed to eight stripes. The latter arrangement was adopted and is used today.[3]
Chronology
| Date | Flag | Image |
|---|---|---|
| 1793-1794 | British Red Ensign[5] |  |
| 1794-1816 | Union flag (probably not updated in 1801) |  |
| 1816-1843 | Early version of the present flag | |
| Feb 1843-July 1843 | Union flag (following British invasion) |  |
| July 1843-Feb 1893 | The current Hawaiian flag introduced following British withdrawal | |
| Feb 1893-Apr 1893 | U.S. Flag |  |
| 1894-1898 | Hawaiian flag re-adopted by Republic of Hawaii | |
| 1898-1959 | Hawaiian flag used by U.S. territory of Hawaii | |
| 1959-present | Hawaiian flag used by state of Hawaii | |
Governor's flag
The flag used by the Governor of Hawaii is a red and blue bicolor. In the middle of the eight white stars appears the name of the state in all capital letters. During the time Hawaii was a United States territory, "HAWAII" was replaced with "TH", which stood for "Territory of Hawaii".[6]
Ka Hae Hawaiʻi day
In 1990, Governor of Hawaii John D. Waihee III proclaimed July 31 to be Ka Hae Hawaiʻi Day, the Hawaiian Flag Day. It has been celebrated each year since then.[7]
Kanaka Maoli flag
The Kanaka Maoli flag was said to be the original flag of the Kingdom of Hawaii. This flag symbolized the flag of the Native Hawaiians since the present Hawaiian flag, a hybrid of British and American symbolism, evokes images of colonialism to some.[8] The colors are red-green-yellow, said to have been Kamehameha’s personal flag, and reintroduced by Kamehameha III. [9]
Gene Simeona of Honolulu claims he resurrected the "original" Hawaiian green, red, and yellow striped flag, destroyed by British navy Captain Lord George Paulet when he seized Hawaii for five months in 1843. Simeona says he ran into a descendant of Lord Paulet on the grounds of ʻIolani Palace in 1999 who told him the present Hawaiian flag is not the original. That inspired Simeona to scour the Hawaii State Archives, where he found the design, then reproduced it. Since then, he and his business partner Stan Fonseca have been churning the emblem out in hopes that it will catch on as a fresh, non-colonial symbol of the restored Hawaiian kingdom.
Symbolism
At the center of the flag is a green shield bearing a coat of arms of the kanaka maoli, made up of the royal kahili, the original Hawaiian royal standard. Crossing this kahili are two paddles, representing both voyaging traditions of Hawaiians, and Kamehameha’s ‘Law of the Splintered Paddle’.
There are nine stripes unlike the eight striped flag of the present State of Hawaii. Each stripe represents one of the major Hawaiian islands inhabited prior to the arrival of Western civilization. They are Hawaii Island, Maui, Kahoolawe, Lanai, Molokai, Oahu, Kauai, Niihau and one more, Nihoa.[10]Red – Mo’oku’auhau (genealogy), blood, na ali’i; Green – ‘Aina (land), na maka’ainana; Yellow – La (Sun), spirituality, na Kahuna. According to Fonseca, the green in the flag represents the maka‘ainana (commoner) caste, the land and goodness; the red represents the landed konohiki who served the ali‘i, genealogy and strength; and the yellow represents the ali‘i, spirituality and alertness to danger. [8]
To some this flag represents the flag of the Native Hawaiian people and their quest for sovereignty. Other Hawaiians supporting the sovereignty and/or independence movements continue to use the state flag as their symbol.
References
- ↑ "Name and Insignia of Hawaii - State Flag". Hawaii State Library (2006-03-01). Retrieved on 2007-10-25.
- ↑ BBC History (magazine) Jan 2008
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Quaife, Milo; M. J. Weig; R. E. Appleman (1961). The History of the United States Flag. New York: Harper. http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/us-hi_hi.html#his.
- ↑ http://www.fotw.net/flags/us-hi_hi.html
- ↑ http://www.fotw.net/flags/us-hi_hi.html
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Name and Insignia of Hawaii - Governor's Flag". Hawaii State Library (2006-03-01). Retrieved on 2007-10-25.
- ↑ "Hawaiian Flag Day Proclamation". Retrieved on 2007-10-26.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 "'Original' flag raises debate". Retrieved on 2008-07-31.
- ↑ "Black Flag Shirt". Retrieved on 2008-07-31.
- ↑ "Hawai'i Ko Aloha Flag (U.S.)". Retrieved on 2008-07-31.
External links
- Constitutional Provisions for the Display of Ka Hae Hawaiʻi
- Hawaii at Flags of the World
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