<P> The canton of the flag of Hawaii contains the Union Flag of the United Kingdom, prominent over the top quarter closest to the flag mast . The field of the flag is composed of eight horizontal stripes, symbolizing the eight major islands (Hawai ʻi, Maui, Kaho ʻolawe, Lāna ʻi, Moloka ʻi, Oʻahu, Kaua ʻi, and Ni ʻihau). Other versions of the flag have only seven stripes, probably representing the islands with the exception of Kaho ʻolawe or Ni ʻihau . The color of the stripes, from the top down, follows the sequence: white, red, blue, white, red, blue, white, red . The colors were standardized in 1843, although other combinations have been seen and are occasionally still used . </P> <P> In 2001, a survey conducted by the North American Vexillological Association (NAVA) placed Hawaii's flag 11th in design quality out of the 72 Canadian provincial, U.S. state and U.S. territorial flags ranked . </P> <P> There are various accounts of the earliest history of the flag of Hawaii . One relates how King Kamehameha I flew a British flag, probably a Red Ensign, given to him by British explorer Captain George Vancouver as a token of friendship with King George III . Subsequent visitors reported seeing the flag flying from places of honor, as it was then considered an official Hawaiian flag . As the union jack added diagonal red cross of St Patrick in 1801, so did the flag of Hawaii . An adviser to Kamehameha noted that the Union Flag could draw Hawaii into international conflict, as his kingdom could be seen as an ally of the United Kingdom, and he subsequently lowered the Union Flag over his home at Kamakahonu . While disputed as historically accurate, one account stated that in order to placate U.S. interests during the War of 1812, a flag of the U.S. was raised over Kamehameha's home, only to be removed when British officers in the court of Kamehameha vehemently objected to it . This explains why the resulting flag of Hawaii was a deliberate hybrid of the two nations' flags . </P> <P> In 1816, Kamehameha commissioned his own flag to avoid this conflict, which has evolved into the current flag . It was probably designed by one of the commanders of the Royal Hawaiian Navy, former officers of the British Royal Navy, who advised Kamehameha, based on a form of the British naval flag . There is debate as to the actual designer: some credit Alexander Adams, others George Charles Beckley . It was very similar to the flag of the British East India Company in use about this time which had only red and white stripes . Captain Adams used this flag for the first time on a Hawaiian trade mission to China in 1817 . </P>

Why does the hawaiian flag have a union jack
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