Hawaii: Difference between revisions

'''Hawaii''' is a state in the United States, an archipelago in the central [[Pacific Ocean]], known for its volcanic landscapes, diverse multicultural population, indigenous Hawaiian heritage, and unique position as the only U.S. state completely surrounded by ocean. Covering approximately 16,637 km² of land area (with total including water much larger), it has an estimated population of around 1.44 million (as of recent U.S. Census projections around 2024-2025). Catholicism, introduced in the early 19th century through French missionaries of the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary, constitutes a significant minority religion, with estimates indicating about 8.5% Catholics (122,652 Catholics out of a total population of 1,440,196 as of 2023, per the Annuario Pontificio via Catholic-Hierarchy.org), though some surveys and sources suggest figures around 15-20% in varying contexts. The state is served by a single Latin Rite diocese, the [[Diocese of Honolulu]], a suffragan see of the [[Archdiocese of San Francisco]], encompassing all islands and notable for its multi-ethnic character (including strong Filipino, Portuguese, and Native Hawaiian influences) and associations with saints [[Saint Damien of Molokaʻi|Damien De Veuster]] and [[Saint Marianne Cope]], whose ministries at the Kalaupapa leper settlement on Molokaʻi represent key milestones in Hawaiian Catholic history.<ref name="cath-hier">{{Cite web |title=Honolulu (Diocese) |url=https://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/diocese/dhono.html |publisher=Catholic-Hierarchy.org |access-date=2026-01-27}}</ref><ref name="gcath-hono">{{Cite web |title=Diocese of Honolulu, USA |url=https://gcatholic.org/dioceses/diocese/hono0.htm |publisher=GCatholic.org |access-date=2026-01-27}}</ref>