@ChrisCMU

It think you need to understand the differences between geographic borders, and geopolitical borders.

Although Hawaii is a US state, it is not part of the continent of North America. It is part of the Polynesian group of islands, which are considered to be within Oceania.

Although Central America is within the continent of North America, the term Central America is used to describe countries from Guatemala to Panama. North America is more commonly used to describe just Canada, US and Mexico.

Richard said it correctly.
But North america includes central America too, as Chris stated.
Why do so many people think North America is equal to US+Greenland+Canada+Mexico??

So was India part of Europe when the UK controlled it?

Being part of the North American Continent, and being in the United States of America are not the same thing.

Here is a quote from Wikipedia:

"Hawaii is the only state of the United States that is not geographically located in North America, grows coffee, is completely surrounded by water, is entirely an archipelago, has royal palaces, and does not have a straight line in its state boundary."

But on topic:

Is this going to be an updated version of your map, or an entirely different one?

It looks very nice, but the differences in state borders looks funny. The straight lines in Africa compared to the natural borders in Asia, for example.

(sorry for the double post)
In Dutch there are two different words for what is called continent in English: continent, and "werelddeel", translated as "worldpart". The continents are Europe, Asia, North America, South America, Africa, Antarctica and **Australia**. The "worldparts" are Europe, Asia, North America, South America, Africa, Antarctica and **Oceania**. There are many other definitions of worldparts, sometimes Central America is considered separate from North America, and sometimes Antarctica isn't even mentioned. That's because worldparts are more cultural/politically based divisions, rather than geological. Other distinctions include Greenland and sometimes Israel as part of Europe (not French Guyana) and indeed, Hawaii as part of North America.
Also, worldparts include islands that are not on the actual Continental shelf (cyan in [this](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/93/Elevation.jpg) image), such as Iceland.
Iceland geologically belongs to both North America and Europe, it literally on the edge of the two. Also, New Zealand is not part of the continent Australia, but it is of the worldpart Oceania, and so are Micronesia, Polynesia, Melanesia and partly Indonesia. And, Europe and Asia are often merged into Eurasia, and sometimes even Eurofrasia. (Europe+Africa+Asia)
___

So far the Dutch definitions. It looks like you are arguing about whether to use continents or worldparts, or a combination of both.

everyone that thinks hawaii is in north america obviously needs to brush up on their geography oceania is on the same Continent as Australia.I could bet all my klive and or my life savings that hawaii is in oceania and you are arguing uselessly

There's only one way to settle this.....

a 4 v 4 game for those who think Hawaii is in Oceania, v those who think it's in N. America. Using this map of course. Any takers?

Team A: Hawaii is in Oceania

1: Coondog
2:
3:
4:

Team B: Hawaii in in North America


1:
2:
3:
4:

madrid is still 4


Oh, English language, why must thou again disappoint me?

And coondog, count me in for team A!

Team B!

Actually i wont do the game.

team a but why settle a fact with a game.The people who think it's hawaii is in north america have bad geography.Hey bluemonkey is french polynesia in europe because it's an external territory.Is pitcairn islands in europe because it is a external uk territory face facts hawai is in the same continent as australia and now you geography blunders go argue russia is in only one continent.

Some things which I'm missing in this thread:

- "Continent" (in its geopolitical meaning) is not well-defined; it will differ based on who you ask.
- "Continent" (in its geographical meaning) is much more clearly defined, but does run into practical issues (such as Iceland).
- The two meanings don't coincide, not perfectly at least.
- Most importantly, it doesn't even matter whether or not it's "correct" to call, for instance, Hawaii part of a "North America" bonus. What matters is gameplay. The reason you call the bonus "North America" is because it's a convenient, clear, short name which everyone will understand. Whether or not Hawaii is part of it is very clear because WL will use the appropriate colour to draw Hawaii.

Um, I am a geography major, so I'm not just making crap up (why someone would even quote wikipedia in this when it is completely untrustworthy is beyond me). Since when do plates matter? Should India be a separate continent since it is not on the same plate as Asia? Hawaii is not on the same plate as Australia anyway.

There are only 7 continents, PERIOD. How do you people not understand this?

North America
South America
Asia
Africa
Europe
Australia
Antarctica

When people talk about doing the 7 tallest peaks on every continent, THERE ARE ONLY 7 EVER LISTED.

Stop making up continents. This has nothing to do with politics at all. I don't care who "owns" the place. I don't count Guam in North America despite it being US. Just like nobody would call India or Australia "Europe" when the UK "owned them". Canada is part of the UK politically speaking (same queen).

Just leave politics out of it.

You can use whatever "region" bonus you want, just don't call it a continent when it is not. Call it something else if you want some sort of "Oceanic" REGION.

I realize the map maker did not call it a continent. It was Moros that said Hawaii is not part of North America, which is not true.

Basically I think they should be subdivided for game play, just name things appropriately.

Why not just rename North America to Anglo America and group Central America together?

There are geography majors?! Didn't know such a thing existed...

oh boy how wrong are you chriscmu you have obviously been thought geography badly you also forgot to mention Australasia which some people say instead of Australia continent.

Looks good. A few more territories in ustralia would be good to even it our a bit.

Wow, people get REALLY hotted up about this Oceania vs North America debate, huh? Here is my opinion on the matter, guaranteed to be offensive: Who cares? Really, is this a big deal? Jaysus....