Hawaiian refers to anything connected to Hawaii, the tropical island state in the Pacific Ocean, or to the Native Hawaiian people who have lived there for over a thousand years.

The Native Hawaiian people sailed across 2,000 miles of open ocean from Polynesia in large canoes, using only the stars, ocean currents, and the flight patterns of birds to navigate. They developed a rich culture with their own language, music, and traditions. Hawaiian music often features the gentle sounds of the ukulele and slack-key guitar. Traditional Hawaiian customs include the hula, a dance that tells stories through movement, and the practice of making lei (flower garlands) to welcome visitors and celebrate special occasions.

The Hawaiian language sounds musical and flowing, with words like aloha (which means both hello and goodbye, but also love and compassion) and mahalo (thank you). Many place names in Hawaii come from this language, like Waikiki and Mauna Kea.

Today, when people say something is Hawaiian, they might mean Native Hawaiian culture and traditions, the modern multicultural state of Hawaii, or things associated with the islands like Hawaiian pizza (topped with pineapple and ham) or a Hawaiian shirt (a colorful casual shirt with tropical patterns). Hawaii became the 50th U.S. state in 1959, making it America's youngest and most isolated state.