Answer:
They are not located next to the other states.
Explanation:
The reason Hawaii and Alaska are not considered part of the contiguous United States is that they are not located next to the other states. The contiguous United States refers to the 48 states that are located on the North American continent and are connected to each other, excluding Alaska and Hawaii. While Alaska is located on the North American continent, it is separated from the contiguous states by the Canadian province of British Columbia. Hawaii, on the other hand, is an archipelago located in the Pacific Ocean and is geographically separate from the continental United States.