Why does Hawaii have interstate highways?

After doing a little research on this one, there were many-an-explanation. However, I am not settled with any of the scientific explanations behind this mystery. Ergo, I present to you a very simple, and probably skipped over answer: Hawaii doesn’t want to be left out.

Think about it: 50 states. 48 continental, 2 drifters (Alaska and Hawaii).

Wikipedia says “there are four officially designated interstate highways in Alaska, even though Alaska is usually considered to have no interstates, and the routes do not connect directly to any highways in the contiguous United States.” However I am going to go right out and say I disagree. I’d argue the four interstates, while they go into Canadian provinces and not US states, should be counted. And with Alaska’s long tail-like appendage, it pretty much reaches Washington State anyway. Alaska has interstates.

Hawaii, on the other hand, is a bunch (literally) of islands. The state doesn’t border another, thanks to a large ocean, but does have different islands to hop to and from. But if I am not mistaken, there really aren’t large bridges connecting one island to another – so we couldn’t’ call them interisland highways. So should they just be called highways?

About.com told me “any highway built under the auspices of the Federal Aid Highway Act of 1956 and funded by the federal government is called an interstate highway, even if it doesn't cross state lines.” So then, the three interstates in Hawaii, H1, H2, and H3 are valid. Not only are they valid because they federally funded after 1956, but I’d say they are also valid because they “connect important military facilities on the island of Oahu”.

But, again, still not satisfied. I mean really… even though Hawaii is way out there in the “middle” of the ocean, it still is a recognized member of the United States. I can only imagine even with all the surfers, coconuts, hula shirts, and pig roasts they still probably feel a little left out when they want to say, go on a road trip. Can’t really state-hop in Hawaii. Nor can you drive down the highway and hop out and take a picture of your front in Minnesota and your back in Wisconsin (ok, not a good example, there’s a river there, but you get the point). While many are jealous of Hawaii and all its warm weather and tropical fruit and beauty, it certainly doesn’t have the “connection” with the continental states (and Alaska). They just want to be included. And really, you can’t blame Hawaii for that!

(Official Word Count: 426)

So now answer me this: can vegetarians eat animal crackers?