Hawaii State Seal

State Seal of Hawaii

Hawaii State Seal

The College of Arms in London designed the Coat of Arm’ for the Kingdom of Hawaii in 1842. The first state seal was based on the coat of arms and was developed when Hawaii became a republic in 1894. It received two alterations, primarily of words, the first when Hawaii became a US territory in 1901 and the second when it became a US state with the admission act of 1959.

The present seal shows the state shield being held by Kamehameha the Great (a Hawaiian King and native who unified Hawaii) and the Goddess of Liberty holding the flag of Hawaii. A phoenix is shown beneath the shield, rising from Taro leaves which is Hawaii’s State plant. The seal bears the state motto in the native language which means ”The life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness”.