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Flag of Hawaii |
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Ka Hae Hawaii, or
the Flag of Hawaii, is the official standard symbolizing Hawaii as
a kingdom, protectorate, republic, territory and U.S. state. Ka
Hae Hawaii 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 (a.k.a Union Jack), the flag of
the United Kingdom.
Design
The canton of Ka Hae Hawaii is the Union Jack 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 (Hawaii, Oahu, Kauai, Kahoolawe, Lānai, Maui, Molokai and
Niihau). A ninth stripe was once included representing the island
of Nihoa. The color of the stripes, from the top down, follows the
sequence: white, red, blue, white, red, blue, white, red.
Origins
There are various accounts of the earliest history of Ka Hae
Hawaii. One relates how King Kamehameha I flew a Union Jack 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 Jack Flag could draw Hawaii into
international conflict as it would be seen as an ally of the
United Kingdom. Kamehameha lowered the Union Jack 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 Hawaii was a
deliberate hybrid of the two nations' flags. |
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Sterling Silver Charm of Hawaii
In 1816, Kamehameha commissioned his own flag to avoid conflict. As a
result, Ka Hae Hawaii 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.
Governor's flag
The flag used by the Governor of Hawaii 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], which stood for
"Territory of Hawaii".
Ka Hae Hawaii day
In 1990, Governor of Hawaii John D. Waihee III proclaimed July 31 to be
Ka Hae Hawaiʻi or Hawaiian Flag Day. It has been celebrated each year
since then.
Kanaka Maoli flag
The Kanaka Maoli flag was said to be the original flag of the Kingdom of
Hawaii. This flag symbolized the flag of the Native Hawaiians since the
present Hawaiian flag, a hybrid of British and American symbolism,
evokes images of colonialism to some. The colors are red-green-yellow,
said to have been Kamehameha’s personal flag, and reintroduced by
Kamehameha III.
Gene Simeona of Honolulu claims he resurrected the "original" Hawaiian
green, red and yellow striped flag, destroyed by British navy Captain
Lord George Paulet when he seized Hawai‘i for five months in 1843.
Simeona says he ran into a descendant of Lord Paulet on the grounds of
‘Iolani Palace in 1999 who told him the present Hawaiian flag is not the
original. That inspired Simeona to scour the Hawai'i State Archives,
where he found the design, then reproduced it. Since then, he and his
business partner Stan Fonseca have been churning the emblem out in hopes
that it will catch on as a fresh, non-colonial symbol of the restored
Hawaiian kingdom.
Symbolism
At the center of the flag is a green shield bearing a coat of arms of
the kanaka maoli, made up of the kahili, the original Hawaiian royal
standards. Crossing this kahili are two paddles, representing both
voyaging traditions of Hawaiians, and Kamehameha’s ‘Law of the
Splintered Paddle’.
There are nine stripes unlike the eight striped flag of the present
State of Hawaii. Each stripe represents one of the major Hawaiian
islands inhabited prior to the arrival of Western civilization. They are
Hawaii Island, Maui, Kahoolawe, Lanai, Molokai, Oahu, Kauai, Niihau and
one more, Nihoa.[7] Nihoa was also once on the State flag but was
removed after Annexation. Red – Mo’oku’auhau (genealogy), blood, na
ali’i; Green – ‘Aina (land), na maka’ainana; Yellow – La (Sun),
spirituality, na Kahuna. According to Fonseca, the green in the flag
represents the maka‘ainana (commoner) caste, the land and goodness; the
red represents the landed konohiki who served the ali‘i, genealogy and
strength; and the yellow represents the ali‘i, spirituality and
alertness to danger.
To some this flag represents the Flag of the Native Hawaiian people and
their quest for sovereignty. Other Hawaiians supporting the sovereignty
and/or independence movements continue to use the state flag as their
symbol. |