As the United States’ (US) most strategic territory outside the mainland, Hawaii is not only a vacation destination or a symbol of cultural diversity, but also a region at the center of Washington’s Pacific-centric security and foreign policy strategies. Having joined the US as the 50th state in 1959, Hawaii’s importance has been increasingly evident not only since then, but also since the late 19th century. With its geopolitical position, military capacity, disputed legal status and cultural diversity, Hawaii is the most critical pillar of the US global projection in the Pacific.
Hawaii’s fundamental importance for the United States is related to its location in the Asia-Pacific region. Situated in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, Hawaii serves as a bridge between the US mainland and Asia, as well as a strategic control point for sea and air routes. Therefore, Hawaii plays a key role in the US “Pacific Axis” strategy. In particular, China’s increasing activities in the South China Sea and rising tensions in the Taiwan Strait have pushed Washington to maintain a more active military presence centered on Hawaii. In this context, Hawaii is not only a defensive base, but also a center where proactive foreign policy instruments are planned and deployed. The US diplomatic, economic and military vision of the “Indo-Pacific” region is largely shaped through Hawaii.
Hawaii became dramatically involved in world history with Japan’s “Pearl Harbor Attack” on December 7, 1941 during the Second World War. This attack led the United States to declare war and consolidate its position as a global actor. Today, Hawaii is home to the US Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM). This is the US military command with the largest geographical area of responsibility, covering some 36 countries.[1] Hawaii’s nuclear submarine ports, missile defense systems, radar facilities and advanced logistics infrastructure have transformed it into a military “frontline outpost”. In addition, the multinational exercises conducted here and the level of readiness of the armed forces are an important part of US global deterrence.
Although Hawaii is today recognized as a state of the United States, the historical legitimacy of this status is highly contested. In 1893, a coup d’état by US-backed businessmen and soldiers against Queen Liliʻuokalani of Hawaii brought an end to the independent Kingdom of Hawaii. In 1898, Hawaii was officially annexed by the United States. However, this process is still seen as an occupation by the indigenous people (Kanaka Maoli) and is criticized on the basis of the “right to self-government” in international law.
In 1993, the US Congress recognized the intervention in the Kingdom of Hawaii as unlawful and issued a formal apology in the so-called “Apology Resolution”.[2] However, this apology did not end indigenous demands for independence or the pursuit of autonomy. Today, various indigenous movements continue to demand the restoration of Hawaiian sovereignty and cultural and political autonomy.[3]
Hawaii attracts attention not only militarily and geopolitically, but also as part of the US soft power. Inhabited by communities of Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Chinese, Korean and Filipino descent, Hawaii serves as a cultural bridge between Asia and America. It also contributes significantly to the US economy through its tourism sector; the islands host around 10 million tourists a year and have one of the most developed infrastructures in the Pacific. In this respect, Hawaii also functions as a “showcase” reflecting the liberal values and cultural pluralism of the US. Hawaii is a strategic platform for Washington, which seeks to establish not only a military but also a cultural sphere of influence, especially against regional powers in the Asia-Pacific.
Hawaii, located in the Pacific Island chain, is also important in terms of climate security. Problems such as rising sea levels due to the effects of global warming, destruction of coral reefs and loss of ecosystems directly affect Hawaii. This has led to the positioning of Hawaii as a base of observation and response in US environmental and disaster management strategies. It also serves as a symbolic platform for the US to demonstrate its sensitivity to the views of international bodies such as the Pacific Islands Forum in climate negotiations.
Hawaii’s economy is heavily dependent on two sectors: tourism and military spending. Both sectors are extremely vulnerable to global crises. During the 2020 Covid-19 pandemic, the near-zero tourism revenues caused serious shocks to Hawaii’s economy, while military spending remained stable during the same period. This has resulted in Pentagon influence becoming more palpable in the economic decisions of the state. In the academic literature, this dependency is conceptualized as the “tourism-militarism dichotomy” and its impact on the cost of living of the local population has been criticized.
Hawaii’s annexation to the United States is currently being re-evaluated in international law around concepts such as statehood, self-determination and indigenous rights. Hawaii, which is not included in the decolonization lists of the United Nations (UN), is a concrete example of how Western-centered legal norms can operate with double standards.[4] Some indigenous legal scholars argue that Hawaii should be accorded a “special status” like Greenland or French Polynesia, making it a subject of scrutiny not only under US domestic law but also under international law norms.[5]
Today, not only land and sea, but also cyber and space domains are at the center of inter-state competition. Hawaii is also a center where the Pacific leg of the US Space Force is being developed. With its high-altitude radar systems and satellite control infrastructure, Hawaii has become a forward observation post against China’s cyber-attack capabilities. Thus, Hawaii plays a key role in the transition from the classical concept of war to the multidimensional security paradigm.
Hawaii is not only an island chain that extends the geographical boundaries of the United States, but also a multi-layered region that consolidates the country’s global military power, shapes its Asia-Pacific strategies and is historically identified with colonialism. Its location in the middle of the Pacific has turned it into both a bastion of security and a cultural interface. However, this strategic importance also brings with it indigenous historical demands for justice and challenges to the legitimacy of international law. In today’s multipolar world, regions like Hawaii are important not only for their physical presence but also for the political, legal and moral meanings they carry. Therefore, understanding Hawaii requires analyzing not only an island group, but also the global identity, security reflexes and historical responsibilities of the United States.
[1] “Commander, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command.” U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, U.S. Department of Defense, www.pacom.mil/Contact/Directory/Bio-Display/Article/2590636/commander-us-indo-pacific-command/, (Accessed Date: 05.11.2025).
[2] United States Congress. “Joint Resolution to Acknowledge the 100th Anniversary of the January 17, 1893 Overthrow of the Kingdom of Hawaii, and to Offer an Apology to Native Hawaiians.” Public Law 103-150, 107 Stat. 1510, 23 Nov. 1993. GovInfo, https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/STATUTE-107/pdf/STATUTE-107-Pg1510.pdf, (Accessed Date: 05.11.2025).
[3] Nation of Hawai’i. Nation of Hawai’i Official Website, www.nationofhawaii.org, (Accessed Date: 05.11.2025).
[4] United Nations. “Non-Self-Governing Territories.” United Nations and Decolonization, https://www.un.org/dppa/decolonization/en/nsgt, (Accessed Date: 05.11.2025).
[5] Hawaiian Kingdom. “International Law.” Hawaiian Kingdom Blog, https://hawaiiankingdom.org/blog/category/international-law/, (Accessed Date: 05.11.2025).
