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 . Hawaii is the only U.S. state not located in the Americas . Hawaii 's diverse natural scenery , warm tropical climate , abundance of public beaches , oceanic surroundings , and active volcanoes make it a popular destination for tourists , surfers , biologists , and volcanologists .