Hawaii

Before entering the Union, Hawaii was an independent kingdom ruled by King Kamehameha I. He ordered a flag to be created so as to reinforce the island kingdom’s relationship with Imperial Britain. The flag bears a close resemblance to the flag of the British East India Company and the influence of the king’s advisors, many of them ex-members’ of the British Royal Navy, may explain the similarities.

Other than the British flag, the 8 stripes recognise the eight major islands that make up the state.