The Fiftieth Star: The Day Hawaii Became a State
On the morning of August 21, 1959, the sun rose over the Pacific as it always had, casting light on the beaches, volcanoes, and green mountains of Hawaii. But that day, the people of the islands awoke as something new, citizens of the United States living in the nation’s fiftieth state.
The news came in a formal announcement from President Dwight D. Eisenhower, who signed the proclamation from the White House. With the stroke of a pen, he welcomed Hawaii into the Union. That same afternoon, in a quiet ceremony, he added a new star to the American flag.
It had taken nearly sixty years to get to that moment. The path to statehood had been long, complicated, and deeply rooted in both triumph and controversy.
An Independent Kingdom
For most of the 19th century, Hawaii was not part of the United States. It was an independent kingdom ruled by Native Hawaiian monarchs. The islands had their own government, a written constitution, diplomatic relations with foreign powers, and a rich culture shaped by centuries of Polynesian history.
That changed in 1893, when a group of American and European businessmen, supported by U.S. Marines, overthrew Queen Lili‘uokalani, the last reigning monarch. They objected to her attempts to restore power to Native Hawaiians and feared the loss of their commercial influence.
The overthrow, which took place without the approval of Congress or the president at the time, was condemned by many. President Grover Cleveland even called it an act of injustice. Still, in 1898, during the Spanish-American War, the United States annexed Hawaii through a congressional resolution. Its strategic location made it valuable for military and trade purposes.
From that point forward, Hawaii was a U.S. territory, but it was not a state. Its residents could not vote for president, had no voting members in Congress, and were subject to federal laws without full representation.
The Push for Statehood
For decades, many Hawaii residents Native Hawaiians, Asian immigrants, and others called for full statehood. They argued that they had fought in U.S. wars, paid taxes, and built an economy deeply tied to the mainland. During World War II, more than 150,000 men and women from Hawaii served in the armed forces, including the famous all-Japanese American 442nd Regimental Combat Team, one of the most decorated units in U.S. history.
Despite their service, political resistance on the mainland remained strong. Some lawmakers opposed statehood because of Hawaii’s distance, its ethnic diversity, or its perceived ties to colonial history. Others feared that adding two new senators from the islands would shift the balance of power in Congress.
Still, public opinion gradually changed. In 1954, a wave of political activism known as the Democratic Revolution transformed Hawaii’s political landscape. Labor unions, veterans, and young leaders of diverse backgrounds organized for civil rights, labor protections, and political equality.
The movement built momentum. Congress finally passed the Hawaii Admission Act in March 1959, and President Eisenhower signed it into law.
A Vote by the People
The final step came in the form of a vote. The people of Hawaii cast their votes on June 27, 1959. Nearly 93 percent of voters said yes to statehood. It was one of the highest margins ever recorded for a statehood vote.
Two months later, on August 21, Hawaii officially joined the Union. The fiftieth star was added to the flag the following year on July 4, 1960.
The new state elected its first congressional representatives, including Daniel Inouye, a Japanese American war hero who became the first Asian American to serve in the U.S. Senate. His election symbolized the profound shift taking place, not just in Hawaii, but in the broader story of America.
The Meaning of Statehood
Statehood brought both celebration and complexity. For many residents, it meant long-awaited rights, like voting in federal elections, full participation in the democratic process, and equal standing among the states.
But for many Native Hawaiians, it also marked the loss of sovereignty and the continuation of a history that began with the overthrow of their monarchy. Some viewed statehood as another chapter in a story of colonization. The question of Hawaiian self-determination remains alive today, with ongoing debates over land, language, culture, and political status.
A State Like No Other
Hawaii remains unlike any other American state. It is the only state made up entirely of islands, the only one located in the tropics, and the only one with a majority population of Asian and Pacific Islander descent. Its culture blends traditions from Polynesia, Japan, China, the Philippines, Portugal, and the continental United States.
The day Hawaii became a state was not just the addition of a star to the flag. It was a recognition of a place with a unique identity, history, and voice.