The Only U.S. State Made Entirely of Islands

Hawaii is the only U.S. state composed entirely of islands. It is an archipelago of 137 volcanic islands, atolls, and islets in the central Pacific Ocean, ~2,400 miles (3,860 km) from the continental U.S.

Key Facts

• Eight main islands: Hawaiʻi (Big Island), Maui, Oʻahu, Kauaʻi, Molokaʻi, Lānaʻi, Niʻihau, Kahoʻolawe.
• Admitted as the 50th state on August 21, 1959.
• Capital: Honolulu (on Oʻahu).
• Unique among U.S. states: tropical, no straight-line borders, own time zone (HST, no DST), only state growing coffee commercially.