School Reports--State Symbols

The State Flag

The State Flag has eight stripes (representing the eight major islands), of white, red and blue; the field closely resembles the Union Jack of Great Britain, from which the original flag apparently was designed.

State of Hawaii State Seal

The State Seal has a heraldic shield in the center and a figure of King Kamehameha I on its right side and the Goddess of Liberty holding the Hawaiian flag on its left. Below the shield is the Phoenix surrounded by taro leaves, banana foliage, and sprays of maidenhair fern. With color added, the seal becomes the State Coat of Arms.

The State Motto

The words Ua mau ke ea o ka aina i ka pono which mean "The life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness." The saying is attributed to King Kamehameha III on July 31, 1843, when the Hawaiian flag was once more raised after a brief period of unauthorized ursurpation of authority by a British admiral.

The State Anthem

Hawai'i Pono'i, written by King David Kalakaua and set to music by Prof. Henry Berger, the Royal Bandmaster. It was also the anthem of the Kingdom and the Territory of Hawaii.

Hawaii ponoi Nana i kou, moi
Kalani Alii, ke Alii.
Makua lani e Kamehameha e
Na kaua e pale Me ka ihe.

(translation)
Hawaii's own true sons, be loyal to your chief
Your country's liege and lord, the Alii(1).
Father above us all, Kamehameha(2),
Who guarded in the war with his ihe(3).

1) Alii (ah-lee-ee) sovereign
2) Kamehameha (Kah-may'-ha-may'-ha) king who first unified the islands.
3) Ihe (ee-hay) spear