The two US states that do not touch the rest of the country. Alaska is the largest state by area, in the far northwest, reached overland through Canada. Hawaii is the smallest of the two by area, an island chain in the Pacific, and the only US state made entirely of islands. Both joined in 1959, making them the newest states.
The core difference
- Alaska — the largest US state by area by a wide margin, in the far northwest of North America, separated from the contiguous states by Canada.
- Hawaii — an archipelago in the central Pacific, the only US state composed entirely of islands and the only one outside North America.
What they share
Both are non-contiguous: neither borders another US state, which is why maps of the United States usually show them in inset boxes rather than in place. Both were admitted in 1959 — Alaska in January, Hawaii in August — making them the 49th and 50th states and the two most recent additions.
The terms for the rest
Because of this split, American English has words for the remainder that outsiders rarely meet:
- the contiguous United States — the 48 states that touch each other
- the lower 48 — the same idea, common in Alaska
- CONUS — the continental United States, chiefly military usage
Note that continental and contiguous are not identical: Alaska is on the North American continent, so it is continental but not contiguous. Hawaii is neither.
Climate, which is the obvious contrast
Alaska reaches into the Arctic and holds the highest peak in North America, Denali. Hawaii is tropical and volcanic, and its islands are the exposed tops of a volcanic chain that is still growing. They are the coldest and the warmest states, which is much of why they are compared at all.
Frequently asked questions
Are Alaska and Hawaii part of the United States?
Yes, both are full US states. They are simply not contiguous — neither borders another state, which is why maps show them in insets.
When did Alaska and Hawaii become states?
Both in 1959 — Alaska in January and Hawaii in August — making them the 49th and 50th states.
What does "the lower 48" mean?
The 48 contiguous states, excluding Alaska and Hawaii. "Continental US" is slightly different, since Alaska is on the continent but not contiguous.