MULTIZ321
TUG Member
- Joined
- Jun 6, 2005
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- BLUEWATER BY SPINNAKER HHI
ROYAL HOLIDAY CLUB RHC (POINTS)
What was the last state to join the US?
Hawaii became America's 50th (and so far, final) state, fifty years ago today.
The area Mark Twain once referred to as "the loveliest fleet of islands that lies anchored in any ocean," Hawaii is a group of eight islands and many islets in the Pacific Ocean.
It's the only US state located in the tropics, the only one with no territory on the mainland, and — because of active lava flows — the only state that continues to grow in area.
Hawaii is known as the "Aloha State" for "aloha," the word that represents a spirit natives believe thrives locally: it exemplifies a feeling of good wishes, love, respect and consideration for others.
Quote: "Ua mau ke ea o ka aina I ka pono" ("The life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness") — Hawaii's state motto
How did Hawaii get the name it has now?
It's uncertain how Hawaii got its present name. 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.
Hawai'i, like many other places throughout Polynesia, is the name of the ancient homeland.
In Tahiti, it is Ra'iatea, although that name is new; its old name was Havai'i.
In the Cook Islands it is 'Avaiki; the Maoris of Aotearoa (New Zealand) have Hawaiki; and in Samoa it is Savai'i.
Those are just a few alterations of the name, but there are probably more plus, as I said, the name of the ancient homeland. There is a possibility that Hawai'i was named after the Havai'i (Ra'iatea) of the Tahitian islands.
However, in our oral traditions of the legendary Hawai'iloa, it is said that he traveled to the Hawaiian islands and the largest island was named after him - Hawai'i.
Richard
