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Ka Hae Hawaiʻi, or the Flag of Hawaiʻi

Ka Hae Hawaiʻi, or the Flag of Hawaiʻi, is the official standard symbolizing Hawaiʻi as a kingdom, protectorate, republic, territory and U.S. state. Ka Hae Hawaiʻi is the only state flag in the United States to have been flown under so many various forms of government and the only one that features the Union Flag, the flag of the United Kingdom.

The flag of Hawaiʻi flying in Haleakalā National Park

The canton of Ka Hae Hawaiʻi is the Union Flag, 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. The color of the stripes, from the top down, follows the sequence: white, red, blue, white, red, blue, white, red. They represent the eight main islands, i.e. Hawaiʻi, Oʻahu, Kauaʻi, Kahoʻolawe, Lānaʻi, Maui, Molokaʻi and Niʻihau.^[1]

There are various accounts of the earliest history of Ka Hae Hawaiʻi. One relates how King Kamehameha I flew a Union Flag given to him by British explorer Captain George Vancouver as a token of friendship with King George III. An advisor to Kamehameha noted that the Union Flag could draw Hawaiʻi into international conflict as it would be seen as an ally of the United Kingdom. Kamehameha lowered the Union Flag from 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 Hawaiʻi was a deliberate hybrid of the two nations' flags.^[2]

In 1816, Kamehameha commissioned his own flag to avoid conflict. As a result, Ka Hae Hawaiʻi was born. Historians attribute the design of Ka Hae Hawaiʻi 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 red-white-blue, also attributed to various historical flags of the United Kingdom. However, some have argued that the stripes were influenced by the American flag. In error, the flag used at the first official flying of Ka Hae Hawaiʻi ordered the stripes white-red-blue. 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.^[2]

Flag of the governor of Hawaiʻi^[3]

The flag used by the Governor of Hawaiʻi consists of a bi-color of red and blue. 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."^[3]

In 1990, Governor of Hawaiʻi John D. Waihee III proclaimed July 31 to be Ka Hae Hawaiʻi or Hawaiian Flag Day. It has been celebrated each year since then.^[4]

• Constitutional Provisions for the Display of Ka Hae Hawaiʻi
• Flags of the World : Hawaii

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