Hawaii
geographical name
Ha·waii
hə-ˈwä-yē 
-ˈwī-ē,
-ˈwä-ˌē,
also -ˈvä-,
or -ˈwȯ-;
sometimes -yə
variants
or Hawai'i
1
or Hawaiian Islands
or formerly Sandwich Islands
group of islands in the central Pacific belonging to the U.S.
2
island in the southeastern part of the state of Hawaii; largest island in the Hawaiian archipelago; chief city Hilo area 4021 square miles (10,455 square kilometers), population 185,079
3
southernmost and newest state of the U.S. comprising the Hawaiian Islands except the Midway Islands; annexed 1898, a territory 1900–59; capital Honolulu area 6471 square miles (16,760 square kilometers), population 1,360,301
see also hawaiian
Cite this Entry
“Hawaii.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Hawaii. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.
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