Hawaii is a place.
Hawaii . ogghəˈwaɪ.i , _ - ji , _ - ʔi ] ; Hawai [ - hawhəˈvɐjʔi ] ) is the 50th and most recent state to have joined the United States of America , having received statehood on August 21 , 1959 . At the southeastern end of the archipelago , the eight main islands are -- in order from northwest to southeast : Niihau , Kauai , Oahu , Molokai , Lānai , Kahoolawe , Maui , and the Island of Hawaii .