The island is located west of Case Inlet in southern Puget Sound, 16 km (9.9 mi) north of Olympia.

[5] From 1922 to 1969, a ferry owned and operated by Mason County, Washington crossed Pickering Passage to link Harstine Island to the mainland.

Alternate spellings of the name include Hartstene, Harsteen, Harstein, Harstene, Hartstein and Harstine.

[7] Although Lt. Henry J. Hartstene wasn't a member of the expedition during the Puget Sound survey, his name, as well as that of Samuel Stretch, were given to the islands probably because they impressed Lt. Wilkes when they led a successful mission to get supplies to stranded shipmates earlier in the voyage while Wilkes had temporary command of Hartstein's ship, the Porpoise.

When Lt. Hartstene's name was published before 1855, the 'Hartstein' spelling was used, including the account he wrote himself of the Arctic expedition he led in 1855.

The family began effort to use the spelling 'Hartstene' from then on in conjunction with his notoriety gained in the 1850s due to his Arctic expedition,[11] and then sailing HMS Resolute to the United Kingdom and presenting it personally to Queen Victoria in 1856,[12][13] he used it almost exclusively.

The United States General Land Office's official map changed from Hartstein to Hartstene between 1883 and 1887.

[citation needed] Five of the instances of Hartstene came after his death : Harstine Island is not served by any railways or highways, but only by local county roads.

[21] The Harstine Island Community Hall, built in the early 20th century, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.