Area code 808

{{Short description|Telephone area code for Hawaii}}

File:USA telephone area code map - Hawaii.svg

Area code 808 is a telephone area code in the North American Numbering Plan (NANP) for the Hawaiian Islands, comprising the windward and the leeward islands. The area code also serves Wake Island in the western Pacific Ocean. The code was assigned on August 8, 1957,{{citation needed|date=March 2023}} about two years before the statehood of Hawaii.

Slightly over 1.4 million people live in Hawaii. Despite the state's rapid growth, and the proliferation of mobile numbers (particularly in Oahu, which includes Honolulu), a single area code is projected to be enough to serve the state until at least the third quarter of 2035.North American Numbering Plan Administrator (NANPA) (October 2021). [https://www.nationalnanpa.com/reports/October%202021%20NPA%20Exhaust%20Analysis.pdf October 2021 NPA Exhaust Analysis], viewed 18 November 2021.

Prior to October 2021, area code 808 had telephone numbers assigned for the central office code 988. In 2020, 988 was designated as a nationwide three-digit dialing code for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. This created a conflict for Hawaii's exchanges, all of which permitted seven-digit dialing. Therefore, area code 808 transitioned to ten-digit dialing on October 24, 2021.{{cite web|url=https://nationalnanpa.com/pdf/PL_556.pdf|date=January 8, 2021|publisher=North American Numbering Plan Administrator |title=Transition to 10-digit dialing (for 988 as 3-digit access to National Suicide Prevention Hotline)|access-date=March 9, 2021}}

Marcus Mariota, quarterback for the Las Vegas Raiders football team and 2014 Heisman Trophy winner, had a special face mask honoring the 808 area code while playing with the University of Oregon.{{Cite web| url=http://uniformcritics.com/swag/marcus-mariotas-facemask/ |last= Tilson|first= Skye|date= 12 December 2014 |website= Uniform Critics|title= Marcus Mariota's Facemask | access-date=7 February 2015}}

The 808 area code is sometimes used by telephone scammers with the intent of confusing the receiver of the call into thinking that it is an 800 area code due to their similar appearance.{{Cite web |last=Gutierrez |first=Ben |title=Scammers use Hawaii area code to get you to pick up the phone |url=https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/story/37115488/scammers-now-using-808-area-code-to-make-you-pick-up-the-phone |access-date=2023-03-30 |website=www.hawaiinewsnow.com |date=21 December 2017 |language=en}}