Seal of Hawaii

Last updated
Great Seal of the State of Hawaii
Seal of the State of Hawaii.svg
Versions
Seal of the Territory of Hawaii.svg
Seal of the Territory of Hawaii
Seal of the Republic of Hawaii.svg
Seal of the Republic of Hawaii
Armiger State of Hawaii
Adopted1959
Motto Ua Mau ke Ea o ka ʻĀina i ka Pono
"The life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness"
Reverse of the Official Statehood medal (in silver) Commemorating the Admission of Hawaii as the 50th State of the United States of America with high relief details of the Great Seal of the State of Hawaii Official Statehood Medal Commemorating the Admission of Hawaii as the 50th State.png
Reverse of the Official Statehood medal (in silver) Commemorating the Admission of Hawaii as the 50th State of the United States of America with high relief details of the Great Seal of the State of Hawaii

The Great Seal of the State of Hawaii was designated officially by Act 272 of the 1959 Territorial Legislature and is based on the territorial seal. [1] Modifications to the territorial seal included the use of the words "State of Hawaii" at the top and "1959" within the circle. Provisions for a seal for the state of Hawaii were enacted by the Territorial Legislature and approved by Governor William F. Quinn on June 8, 1959. [2] The passage of the Admission Act in 1959, admitted Hawaii as the 50th State of the United States of America on August 21, 1959.

Contents

The seal of the Territory of Hawaii was the same as the seal of the republic, except that it had "Territory of Hawaii" placed at the top and "1900" (signifying the year that the territorial government officially was organized) within the circle. [1] The 1901 Territorial Legislature authorized the modified republic seal as the Seal of the Territory of Hawaii. [2]

The seal of the Republic of Hawaii had the words "Republic of Hawaii" at the top and "MDCCCXCIV" within the circle. The year 1894 signified the date that the republic was established. [1] The republic seal was designed by Viggo Jacobsen, a Honolulu resident, and itself was derived from the Royal Arms of the Kingdom of Hawaii used during the reigns of King Kamehameha III, King Kalākaua and Queen Liliʻuokalani, which had been designed by the College of Arms in London in 1842 and officially adopted in 1845. [3]

State Seal

The Great Seal of the State of Hawaii is circular in shape, two and three-quarters inches in diameter, and of the design being described, with the tinctures added as the basis for the coat of arms. The Hawaii state seal represents Hawaii's nation.

Coat of arms

Coat of arms of the State of Hawaii
Coat of arms of Hawaii.svg
Armiger State of Hawaii
AdoptedAugust 21, 1959
Crest A rising sun irradiated Or.
Blazon Quarterly, 1st and 4th, barry of eight Argent, Gules, and Azure; 2nd and 3rd, Or, a puloulou or sacred staff proper; en surtout, an inescutcheon Vert charged with a mullet Or.
Supporters On the dexter King Kamehameha I wearing cloak and mahiole helmet proper, on the sinister goddess Liberty wearing a Phrygian cap and laurel wreath, holding Ka Hae Hawaiʻi in her right hand partly unfurled proper.
Compartment Phoenix bird with wings outstretched arising from flames. The phoenix's body is black and wings half yellow and half dark red. Below the heraldic shield are eight taro leaves having on either side banana foliage and sprays of maidenhair fern trailed upwardly.
Motto Ua Mau ke Ea o ka ʻĀina i ka Pono
(The life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness)

In the center of the seal is a heraldic shield which is quartered. The blazon is as follows

Quarterly, 1st and 4th, barry of eight Argent, Gules, and Azure; 2nd and 3rd, Or, a puloulou or sacred staff proper; en surtout, an inescutcheon Vert charged with a mullet Or.

Supporters design

On the left side is King Kamehameha I, standing in the as represented by the bronze statue in front of Ali'iolani Hale, Honolulu. His cloak and helmet (a mahiole) are in yellow. Kamehameha I's figure is in proper. Kamehameha I unified the Hawaiian Islands into a single united kingdom. On the right side is goddess Liberty also wearing a Phrygian cap and laurel wreath. She is holding Ka Hae Hawaiʻi in her right hand that is partly unfurled.

Crest design

A rising sun irradiated in gold surrounded by the legend "State of Hawaii, 1959" on a scroll in black lettering.

Motto design

The state motto: Ua Mau ke Ea o ka ʻĀina i ka Pono is on the scroll on the seal's bottom in gold lettering. Ua Mau ke Ea o ka ʻĀina i ka Pono is roughly translated into English as "The life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness." The motto was adopted by the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi in 1843 and was used in an address by King Kamehameha III at ceremonies following the return of his kingdom from the British. British captain Lord George Paulet of HMS Carysfort demanded that Hawaiʻi was ceded to Great Britain in response to claims of political abuses against British residents made by British Consul Richard Charlton. After Kamehameha III notified London of the captain's actions, Admiral Richard Darton Thomas returned sovereignty back to the King. [4] The motto is also featured in Israel Kamakawiwo'ole's song "Hawaii '78" and is used on the Hawaii state quarter.

Compartment design

Below the heraldic shield, the bird phoenix has it wings outstretched arising from flames. The phoenix's body is black and wings half yellow and half dark red. Below the heraldic shield are eight taro leaves having on either side banana foliage and sprays of maidenhair fern trailed upwardly.

Symbolism

Government seals of Hawaii

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coat of arms of South Africa</span> National coat of arms of South Africa

The coat of arms of South Africa is the main heraldic insignia of South Africa. The present coat of arms was introduced on Freedom Day, 27 April 2000, and was designed by Iaan Bekker. It replaced the earlier national arms, which had been in use since 1910. The motto is written in the extinct |Xam, member of the Khoisan languages, and translates literally to "diverse people unite". The previous motto, in Latin, was Ex Unitate Vires, translated as "From unity, strength".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coat of arms</span> Heraldic design on a shield, surcoat or tabard

A coat of arms is a heraldic visual design on an escutcheon, surcoat, or tabard. The coat of arms on an escutcheon forms the central element of the full heraldic achievement, which in its whole consists of a shield, supporters, a crest, and a motto. A coat of arms is traditionally unique to the armiger. The term 'coat of arms' itself, describing in modern times just the heraldic design, originates from the description of the entire medieval chainmail 'surcoat' garment used in combat or preparation for the latter.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coat of arms of Canada</span> National coat of arms of Canada

The Arms of Canada, also known as the Royal Coat of Arms of Canada or, formally, as the Arms of His Majesty the King in Right of Canada, is the arms of dominion of the Canadian monarch and, thus, also the official coat of arms of Canada. In use since 1921, it is closely modelled after the royal coat of arms of the United Kingdom, with French and distinctive Canadian elements replacing or added to those derived from the British version.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coat of arms of Nova Scotia</span>

The coat of arms of Nova Scotia is the heraldic symbol representing the Canadian province of Nova Scotia. It is the oldest provincial achievement of arms in Canada, and the oldest British coat of arms in use outside Great Britain. It is blazoned as follows: Argent, a saltire azure charged with an escutcheon of the Royal Arms of Scotland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coat of arms of the Philippines</span> National coat of arms of the Philippines

The coat of arms of the Philippines features the eight-rayed sun of the Philippines with each ray representing the eight provinces which were placed under martial law by Governor-General Ramón Blanco Sr. during the Philippine Revolution, and the three five-pointed stars representing the three major island groups of Luzon, the Visayas, and Mindanao.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coat of arms of British Columbia</span>

The coat of arms of British Columbia is the heraldic symbol representing the Canadian province of British Columbia. The arms contains symbols reflecting British Columbia's British heritage along with local symbols. At the upper part of the shield is the Union Jack, representing the United Kingdom. The lower portion of the shield features a golden sun setting into the ocean, representing the province's location on the Pacific.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coat of arms of Ukraine</span> National coat of arms of Ukraine

The coat of arms of Ukraine is a blue shield with a golden trident. Officially referred to as the Emblem of the Royal State of Volodymyr the Great, or, colloquially, the tryzub, the insignia derives from the seal-trident of Volodymyr the Great, the first Grand Prince of Kyiv.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coat of arms of the Netherlands</span> National coat of arms of the Netherlands

The coat of arms of the Kingdom of the Netherlands was originally adopted in 1815 and later modified in 1907. The arms are a composite of the arms of the former Dutch Republic and the arms of the House of Nassau, it features a checkered shield with a lion grasping a sword in one hand and a bundle of arrows in the other and is the heraldic symbol of the monarch and the country. The monarch uses a version of the arms with a mantle while the government of the Netherlands uses a smaller version without the mantle (cloak) or the pavilion, sometimes only the shield and crown are used. The components of the coats of arms were regulated by Queen Wilhelmina in a royal decree of 10 July 1907, affirmed by Queen Juliana in a royal decree of 23 April 1980.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coat of arms of Georgia</span> National coat of arms of Georgia (country)

The coat of arms of Georgia is one of the national symbols of Georgia. The coat of arms is partially based on the medieval arms of the Georgian royal house and features Saint George, the traditional patron saint of Georgia. In addition to St. George, the original proposal included additional heraldic elements found on the royal seal, such as the seamless robe of Jesus, but this was deemed excessively religious and was not incorporated into the final version.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coat of arms of Greece</span> National coat of arms of Greece

The coat of arms of Greece or national seal of Greece comprises a white Greek cross on a blue escutcheon, surrounded by two laurel branches. It has been in use in its current form since 1975. Prior to the adoption of the current coat of arms, Greece used a number of different designs, some of which were not heraldic; the first heraldic design was introduced in 1832 and its main element, the blue shield with the white cross, has been the base for all other national coats of arms since then. The design is a heraldic representation of the Greek national flag adopted in 1822, which featured a white cross on a blue field.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Portuguese heraldry</span>

Portuguese heraldry encompasses the modern and historic traditions of heraldry in Portugal and the Portuguese Empire. Portuguese heraldry is part of the larger Iberian tradition of heraldry, one of the major schools of heraldic tradition, and grants coats of arms to individuals, cities, Portuguese colonies, and other institutions. Heraldry has been practiced in Portugal at least since the 12th century, however it only became standardized and popularized in the 16th century, during the reign of King Manuel I of Portugal, who created the first heraldic ordinances in the country. Like in other Iberian heraldic traditions, the use of quartering and augmentations of honor is highly representative of Portuguese heraldry, but unlike in any other Iberian traditions, the use of heraldic crests is highly popular.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thomas Square</span> United States historic place

Thomas Square is a park in Honolulu, Hawaii, named for Admiral Richard Darton Thomas. The Privy Council voted to increase its boundaries on March 8, 1850, making Thomas Square Hawaii's oldest city park. It is one of four sites in Hawaii where the Hawaiian flag is allowed to fly alone without the United States flag.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paulet affair</span> 1843 occupation of the Hawaiian Islands by the British Empire

The Paulet affair, also known as British Hawaii, was the unofficial five-month 1843 occupation of the Hawaiian Islands by British naval officer Captain Lord George Paulet, of HMS Carysfort. It was ended by the arrival of American warships sent to defend Hawaii's independence. The British government in London did not authorize the move and it had no official status.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ua Mau ke Ea o ka ʻĀina i ka Pono</span> Motto of the state of Hawaii

Ua Mau ke Ea o ka ʻĀina i ka Pono is a Hawaiian phrase, spoken by Kamehameha III, and adopted in 1959 as the state motto. It is most commonly translated as "the life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness." An alternative translation, which appears at Thomas Square next to a statue of Kamehameha III, is "The sovereignty of the kingdom continues because we are righteous."

A national coat of arms is a symbol which denotes an independent state in the form of a heraldic achievement. While a national flag is usually used by the population at large and is flown outside and on ships, a national coat of arms is normally considered a symbol of the government or the head of state personally and tends to be used in print, on armorial ware, and as a wall decoration in official buildings. The royal arms of a monarchy, which may be identical to the national arms, are sometimes described as arms of dominion or arms of sovereignty.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sovereignty Restoration Day</span> Hawaiian national holiday

Sovereignty Restoration Day is a national holiday of the former Hawaiian Kingdom celebrated on July 31 and still commemorated by Native Hawaiians in the state of Hawaii. It honors the restoration of sovereignty to the kingdom, following the occupation of Hawaiʻi by Great Britain during the 1843 Paulet Affair, by British Rear-Admiral Richard Darton Thomas and when King Kamehameha III uttered the phrase: Ua Mau ke Ea o ka ʻĀina i ka Pono.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kalākaua coinage</span> 1883 Kingdom of Hawaiis silver coins

The Kalākaua coinage is a set of silver coins of the Kingdom of Hawaii dated 1883, authorized to boost Hawaiian pride by giving the kingdom its own money. They were designed by Charles E. Barber, Chief Engraver of the United States Bureau of the Mint, and were struck at the San Francisco Mint. The issued coins are a dime, quarter dollar, half dollar, and dollar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pūloʻuloʻu</span>

Pūloʻuloʻu, often called "kapu sticks", are symbols denoting the kapu of Hawaiian aliʻi and symbolizing the deceased ancestors of the aliʻi. They are traditional symbols of authority which are used in modern times including the Seal of the State of Hawaii.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coat of arms of the Hawaiian Kingdom</span>

The coat of arms of the Hawaiian Kingdom was officially adopted by the Legislative Assembly in 1845, during the reign of King Kamehameha III. The arms were designed by King the "Portcullis", from the College of Arms in London, commissioned by Timoteo Ha‘alilio, the King's private secretary and Royal Advisor, Reverend William Richards.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Names and Insignia of Hawaii
  2. 1 2 Pamphlet that accompanied "The Official Statehood Medal Commemorating the Admission of Hawaii as the 50th State of the United States of America, August 21, 1959", Medallic Art Company, New York
  3. Berg, Annemarie (1979). Great State seals of the United States . Dodd, Mead and Company. p.  41. ISBN   978-0-396-07705-3.
  4. Dorothy Riconda (March 23, 1972). "Thomas Square nomination form". National Register of Historic Places. U.S. National Park Service. Retrieved 2010-02-21.