The Flag of the State of Hawai'i (Hawaiian: Ka Hae Hawaiʻi) is the official standard symbolizing Hawaii as a U.S. state, as it previously had as a kingdom, protectorate, republic, and territory. It is the only state flag of the United States to have been flown under so many various forms of government and the only State Flag to feature the Union Flag of the United Kingdom, a holdover of the period in Hawaiian history when it was a British protectorate (1794–1843). The canton of the flag of Hawaii contains the Union Flag of the United Kingdom, prominent over the top quarter closest to the flag mast.

The field of the flag is composed of eight horizontal stripes symbolizing the eight major islands (Hawaiʻi, Oʻahu, Kauaʻi, Kahoʻolawe, Lānaʻi, Maui, Molokaʻi and Niʻihau). A ninth stripe was once included representing the island of Nihoa. The color of the stripes, from the top down, follows the sequence: white, red, blue, white, red, blue, white, red.

The colors were standardized in 1843, although other combinations have been seen and are occasionally still used. There are various accounts of the earliest history of the flag of Hawaii. One relates how King Kamehameha I flew a British flag, probably a Red Ensign, given to him by British explorer Captain George Vancouver as a token of friendship with King George III.

Subsequent visits reported seeing the flag flying from places of honor. An adviser to Kamehameha noted that the Union Flag could draw Hawaii into international conflict as his kingdom could be seen as an ally of the United Kingdom, and he subsequently lowered the Union Flag over his home. While disputed as historically accurate, one account of events that followed stated that in order to placate American interests during the War of 1812, a flag of the United States was raised over Kamehameha's home only to be removed when British officers in the court of Kamehameha vehemently objected to it.

This account then explains why the resulting flag of Hawaii was a deliberate hybrid of the two nations' flags. In 1816, Kamehameha commissioned his own flag to avoid conflict. As a result, the current flag of Hawaii was born.

Historians attribute its design to an officer of the Royal Navy, based on a form of the British naval flag. There is debate as to the name of the officer: some traditions[who?] credit Alexander Adams, others George Beckley. The original flag was designed to feature stripes alternating in the order red-white-blue, also attributed to various historical flags of the United Kingdom.

However, some[who?] have argued that the stripes were influenced by the flag of the United States. The flag used at the first official flying of the flag of Hawaii erroneously placed the stripes in the order white-red-blue. The number of stripes also changed: originally, the flag was designed with seven horizontal stripes, and in 1845 it was officially changed to eight stripes.

The latter arrangement was adopted and is used today.

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