ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Legal status of Hawaii

Okay kiddo, let me explain to you what the legal status of Hawaii means.

Hawaii is a beautiful state in the United States that is made up of a group of islands in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. But did you know that Hawaii wasn't always part of the United States? A long time ago, Hawaii was its own independent country with its own government, laws, and culture.

However, in the late 1800s, the United States took over Hawaii and made it part of the United States. This means that Hawaii is now a state along with 49 other states in the United States.

Being a state means that Hawaii has to follow the same laws as all the other states in the country, like the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. But Hawaii also has its own laws, like laws about surfing and hula dancing.

So, to sum it up, the legal status of Hawaii means that it is a state in the United States with its own unique laws and culture, but it also has to follow the laws of the United States as a whole.