What Is the Southernmost U.S. State? Hawaii.

Hawaii: The Southernmost State

Hawaii is the southernmost state in the United States.

Geographic Details

• Latitude range: 18°55′ N (Ka Lae, Big Island) to 28°27′ N (Kure Atoll)
• Southernmost point: Ka Lae (South Point) on Hawaiʻi Island — 18°54′49″ N
• Comparison: Florida's southernmost (Ballast Key) = 24°31′ N — Hawaii is ~350 miles farther south
• Global context: Same latitude as Mexico City, Hong Kong, Mecca, Sahara Desert

State Overview

• Composition: 8 main islands + 124 islets/atolls (Northwestern Hawaiian Islands)
• Capital: Honolulu (on Oʻahu)
• Admission: August 21, 1959 (50th state)
• Time zone: Hawaii-Aleutian Standard Time (GMT-10); no DST

Why It Matters

• Tropical climate: Only U.S. state in tropics
• Unique ecosystems: Endemic species, coral reefs, volcanic landscapes
• Strategic: Mid-Pacific hub (INDOPACOM headquarters)
• Cultural: Native Hawaiian culture; Asian/Pacific plurality

While Florida feels "southern" culturally, geographically Hawaii extends far deeper into the tropics—making it unequivocally the southernmost state.