Occasionally, I think the Hawaiian Islands are not part of the United States...?

[Stuart G]

...Too far away?...Not connected?..Odd place?...Islands only?...Late admittance ?..Hard to get to?
Way out there?..Volcanoes? I don't know, just part of being a more...."MATURE PERSON"..i guess?
And I remember when the Islands became a state...Yes, I do...Wait, did they let Alaska in too?
Never been there either..??

[mr_lebowski]

1. Anyone who thinks that ... would be thinking wrong (nt)

[Stuart G]

2. Ain't the first time, & ain't the last

[mr_lebowski]

3. I heard that! nt

[Stuart G]

4. And I ought to know better...I once taught ..."GEOGRAPHY" in high schools.

[qazplm135]

5. obviously they are

but having spent some time there for work, I was struck by just how temporally separated Hawaii is from the mainland. When they wake up at say 7 am, it's already early afternoon on the East Coast. By the time they get to work at say 9am, it's basically the end of the day.

It felt almost like being a day behind the rest of the "world."

BUT, it was also one of the most "American Ideal" places I have ever been. So much multiculturalism. I saw a ton of LGBT positivity. Just a lot of good nature and welcoming. The mainland could use a lot more of what they have going on.

[Stuart G]

7. Thank You for your post...I have never been there..Got to go someday..Also, I like your words,

"American Ideal." I need to get there ASAP

[In_The_Wind]

6. Lovely. I'd like to live in the Islands.

[DFW]

8. Just a rumor started by Donald Trump when he found out that Barack Obama was really born there.

Besides, if he convinces anybody it's true, it lops off three electoral votes that will go to his opponent.

[Ferrets are Cool]

9. AFAIK, they should NOT be

the islands were stolen.

[Stuart G]

10. From Who? ...& Who Should we Pay?, & How Much?

[Ferrets are Cool]

12. Easliy looked up

https://www.civilbeat.org/2016/09/the-law-and-the-truth-behind-the-u-s-hawaii-relationship/

Today, the truth regarding the United States and its role in the illegal overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom can no longer be denied. Thanks to Hawaiian scholars of the 21st century, the truth has been thoroughly scrutinized and confirmed by international institutions of justice.

The United States has been in violation of both U.S. and international law since the overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom in 1893, through the entirety of the 20th century and to this day. Violations of this nature are subject to international law, for which there is no statute of limitations.

In total disregard of the fact that the Hawaiian Kingdom was the only non-European state accepted into the international family of nations under Kamehameha III, with multiple treaties of neutrality and commerce throughout the world including with the United States, the U.S. military nonetheless in 1893 held Queen Liliuokalani captive in isolation for six months, forcefully took control of her seat of government at Iolani Palace and then swiftly proceeded to activate all means necessary to consolidate total control of the Hawaiian Islands.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

11. Oh, dear. They became a state in 1959, more than 60 years ago now.

Alaska the year before.

I've never been to Alaska, but I've been to Hawaii a number of times, most recently on a cruise back in the beginning of March. We would have been among the last tourists allowed in.