hawaii
n. uncountablen. a group of islands in the Pacific Ocean that is a state in the United States. It is famous for its warm weather, beaches, and volcanoes.
n. a volcanic archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, constituting the 50th state of the United States. Proper noun — typically used without an article.
We are planning a vacation to Hawaii this winter.
Many tourists visit Hawaii every year to see the active volcanoes and experience the local culture.
The unique geological history of Hawaii is defined by a volcanic hotspot that has created a chain of islands over millions of years as the Pacific Plate moved northwest.
Borrowed from Hawaiian Hawaiʻi, from Proto-Nuclear Polynesian *Sawaiki (“traditional homeland”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
As a proper noun, it is used without an article ('in Hawaii', not 'in the Hawaii').
Last updated May 2, 2026