Hawaii is the only U.S. state to feature the Union Jack (the flag of the United Kingdom) on its official state flag. This is a common point of confusion because Hawaii was never a British colony. The flag was designed for King Kamehameha I of the Kingdom of Hawaii. It was intended as a friendly gesture toward the British, who had provided the King with a Union Jack as a gift. The flag also features eight horizontal stripes (red, white, and blue), which represent the eight major islands of the archipelago. This unique blend of British and Hawaiian symbols reflects the islands' complex history as an independent kingdom before becoming a US territory and later a state.