Why Does the Flag of Hawaii, a U.S. State, Still Feature Another Country's Flag?
One of the 50 states of the USA still carries the flag of another country in the corner of its own flag: Hawaii. The flag in the corner is the Union Jack of England, in other words, the United Kingdom Flag. Behind this peculiar choice lies a king's balance policy, a coup, and a story spanning over 200 years.
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King Kamehameha Incorporated Two Countries into One Flag
The story begins in 1778, when British explorer James Cook first set foot on the islands. Cook named the archipelago the Sandwich Islands, but during his second visit a year later, he lost his life in a skirmish with the locals.
Subsequently, British captain George Vancouver provided livestock and military support to King Kamehameha, who unified the islands. Their relationship progressed to such an extent that in 1794, Kamehameha declared he had ceded the Big Island to King George III of England. However, London never ratified this agreement.
The real turning point came in 1812. As the U.S. and England went to war, Kamehameha had to appear neutral to avoid being caught between the two powers. He found a solution in a flag: the Union Jack (the flag of the United Kingdom) in the top left corner, with the rest of the flag featuring eight horizontal stripes representing the eight major islands.
The flag sent a message of friendship to England, while its stripes also bore a resemblance to the American flag.
The British Flag Truly Fluttered Once Again
In 1843, British officer Lord George Paulet arrived in Honolulu aboard his warship, threatening to bombard the city. He coerced King Kamehameha III into backing down, replacing the Hawaiian flag with the British one and assuming control of the islands for several months.
Later that same year in July, Rear Admiral Richard Thomas arrived and declared that Paulet had acted without authority, restoring Hawaiian sovereignty. From then on, July 31st was celebrated as 'Restoration Day'. The flag featuring the Union Jack was officially adopted in 1845.
The Kingdom Ended with a Coup, The Flag Remained in Its Place
In the latter half of the 19th century, the influence of American missionaries and sugar plantation owners on the islands rapidly expanded. In 1887, King Kalakaua was compelled to accept a cabinet dominated by foreign landowners. This constitution went down in history as the 'Bayonet Constitution,' and in the same year, Pearl Harbor was opened to the U.S. Navy.
Following Kalakaua's death, Queen Liliuokalani, who ascended to the throne, sought to reclaim royal powers. In response, U.S. Ambassador John Stevens landed 162 marines. On January 17, 1893, the plantation owners overthrew the queen. Hawaii was incorporated into U.S. territory in 1898 and became the 50th state in 1959.
Despite all this turmoil, the flag remained unchanged.
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