The official nickname of Hawaii is “The Aloha State.” The nickname was officially adopted by in 1959 by its legislature, which was coincidentally the same year Hawaii was adopted as a state in the US. Hawaii is known as the Aloha State because Hawaiians are generally friendly and hospitable by nature. They usually welcome visitors with aloha, which means "hello" in Hawaiian.
Hawaii is the 50th and most recent state to be included among the US. It the least populated, but the one with the densest populated in terms of number of people per square mile. Hawaii is entirely made up of a group of islands that number 139 altogether. Most of the islands are very small; there are only eight major islands of a comparatively big size.
It is these larger eight islands that constitute the major hub of Hawaii. This is where the major activities are carried out and also where majority of the population can be found. The policy of welcoming visitors by the "Aloha State" has resulted in a population that is very racially diverse. Hawaii is a major tourist destination due to the attraction of its sandy beaches and tropical environment. The most active volcano in the world, known as Kilauea Iki, is located in Hawaii. The region is also home to Mauna Kea, which is the world’s tallest mountain.
Despite the influx of visitors and the influence of westernization, Hawaii has kept a lot of its native practices. For instance, among all of the states in the US, Hawaii is the only one that has a native official language. It has also managed to retain much of its native culture, despite the advent of westernization and the influx of people from different parts of the world.
Aside from the Aloha State, Hawaii has other nicknames. For instance, it is referred to as the “Pineapple State,” due to the robust pineapple industry there. It is also known by “The Youngest State,” since Hawaii is the last to join the US.
By Esther Ejim