Today, the flag of Hawaii flies in commemoration of the Aloha state’s admission to the Union on Ausut 21, 1959 as the 50th state.
The Hawaiian flag incorporates the Union Jack of the United Kingdom and the red, white, and blue of the flag of the United States. Quoting the Story of Hawaii Museum, “Hawaii began as an independent kingdom. It became a protectorate, republic, territory and finally the 50th state of the United States. It is the only state flag of the United States to have been flown under so many forms of government and the only American flag to feature the Union Flag of the United Kingdom, as part of its design. This is a holdover from the period 1794-to 1843 when Hawaii was a British protectorate.”
Article XV, § 3 of the Hawaii State Constitution states, “The Hawaiian flag shall be the flag of the State.” Hawaii Revised Statues §5-19 defines the flag as follows,
“The official description of the Hawaiian flag as authorized to represent the State of Hawaii on land and sea, and authorized for executive state agencies, second to the stars and stripes of the United States shall be:
(1) The Hawaiian flag shall consist of 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;
(2) The jack shall consist of a blue field charged with a compound saltire (crossing) of alternate tincture white and red, the white having precedence; a narrow edge of white borders each red side of the saltire;
(3) A red cross bordered with white is charged (placed) over all;
(4) The proportion shall be as follows:
(A) The fly (length) is twice the hoist (width);
(B) The jack is half the hoist (width) in breadth and 7-16 the fly in length;
(C) The arms of the red cross with border shall be equal in width to one of the horizontal stripes; the white border shall be one-third the width of the red cross;
(D) The arms of the compound saltire (crossing) are equal in width to the red cross, the tinctures white, red, and the border being in the proportion of 3, 2, 1, respectively.”
It goes on to give rules of flag etiquette and display.
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