Approval in a state island (7)
I believe the answer is:
okinawa
'approval in a state island' is the definition.
'Okinawa' can be an answer for 'island' (Okinawa is an example). I'm not sure about the 'approval in a state' bit.
'approval in a state island' is the wordplay.
'approval' becomes 'OK' (OK is an example).
'a state island' becomes 'awa' (I can't justify this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'ok'+'in'+'awa'='OKINAWA'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for okinawa that I've seen before include "WW2 campaign" , "Japanese city" , "battle!" , "Japanese island captured by US in June nineteen forty five" , "Japanese island, capital Naha" .)