You may have questions about Hawaii. Many Americans do. After all, Hawaii is quite far from the mainland United States — about 2,390 miles from the West Coast. That’s almost the distance between New York and Los Angeles (about 2,450 miles). So perhaps it should be no surprise that at least one high-ranking federal official thinks of Hawaii as a distant island.

Here are some answers to questions about Hawaii.

Can you drive to Hawaii?

Of course not. It is an archipelago in the Pacific Ocean. There are eight main islands: Hawaii Island, Oahu, Maui, Kauai, Lanai, Molokai, Kahoolawe and Niihau.

Is Hawaii a state?

Yes.

An independent kingdom that traded with Europe after the arrival of Captain James Cook in 1778, Hawaii was annexed in 1898 by the United States several years after foreign residents — including 162 American Marines — overthrew Queen Liliuokalani (That was front-page news).

The first Hawaii statehood bill was introduced in Congress in 1921, followed by the introduction of at least 48 more over the years, The New York Times wrote in 1959.