Capital: Honolulu (on Oahu)

Governor: Benjamin Cayetano, D (to Dec. 2002)

Lieut. Governor: Mazie Hirono, D

Senators: Daniel K. Akaka, D (to Jan. 2007); Daniel K. Inouye, D (to Jan. 2005)

Comptroller: Raymond Sato (to Dec. 2002)

Atty. General: Earl Anzai (to Dec. 2002)

Organized as territory: 1900

Entered Union (rank): Aug. 21, 1959 (50)

Motto: Ua Mau Ke Ea O Ka Aina I Ka Pono (The life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness)

State Symbols:

First settled by Polynesians sailing from other Pacific islands between A.D. 300 and 600, Hawaii was visited in 1778 by British Captain James Cook, who called the group the Sandwich Islands.

Hawaii was a native kingdom throughout most of the 19th century, when the expansion of the vital sugar industry (pineapple came after 1898) meant increasing U.S. business and political involvement. In 1893, Queen Liliuokalani was deposed and a year later the Republic of Hawaii was established with Sanford B. Dole as president. Then, following its annexation in 1898, Hawaii became a U.S. territory in 1900.

The Japanese attack on the naval base at Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941, was directly responsible for U.S. entry into World War II.

Hawaii, 2,397 miles west-southwest of San Francisco, is a 1,523-mile chain of islets and eight main islands-Hawaii, Kahoolawe, Maui, Lanai, Molokai, Oahu, Kauai, and Niihau. The Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, other than Midway, are administratively part of Hawaii.

The temperature is mild and Hawaii's soil is fertile for tropical fruits and vegetables. Cane sugar, pineapple, and flowers and nursery products are the chief products. Hawaii also grows coffee beans, bananas, and macadamia nuts. The tourist business is Hawaii's largest source of outside income.

Hawaii's highest peak is Mauna Kea (13,796 ft.). Mauna Loa (13,679 ft.) is the largest volcanic mountain in the world by volume.

Among the major points of interest are Hawaii Volcanoes National Park (Hawaii), Haleakala National Park (Maui), Puuhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park (Hawaii), Polynesian Cultural Center (Oahu), the USS Arizona and USS Missouri Memorial at Pearl Harbor, The National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (Oahu), and Iolani Palace (the only royal palace in the U.S.), Bishop Museum, and Waikiki Beach (all in Honolulu).

Nickname: Aloha State (1959)

Origin of name: Uncertain. The islands may have been named by Hawaii Loa, their traditional discoverer. Or they may have been named after Hawaii or Hawaiki, the traditional home of the Polynesians.

10 largest cities1 (1996 est.): Honolulu, 377,059; Hilo, 37,808; Kailua, 36,818; Kaneohe, 35,448; Waipahu, 31,435; Pearl City, 30,993; Waimalu, 29,967; Mililani Town, 29,359; Schofield Barracks, 19,597; Wahiawa, 17,386

Land area: : 6,423 sq mi. (16,637 sq km)

Geographic center: Between islands of Hawaii and Maui

Number of counties: Four plus one non-functioning county (Kalawao)

Largest county by population and area: Honolulu, 864,571 (1999 est.); Hawaii, 4,028 sq mi.

State parks and historic sites: 67

Residents: Hawaiian

1999 resident population est.: 1,185,497

1990 resident census population (rank): 1,108,229 (41). Male: 563,891; Female: 544,338. White: 369,616 (33.4%); Black: 27,195 (2.5%); American Indian: 5,099 (0.5%); Asian and Pacific Islander: 685,236 (61.8%); Other race: 21,083 (1.9%); Hispanic: 81,390 (7.3%). 1990 percent population under 18: 25.3; 65 and over: 11.3; median age: 32.5.