August 21
ALOHA STATE DAY
It was on this day in 1959 that the citizens of the United States said aloha to their new, fellow Americans. The Hawaiian Islands became the State of Hawaii by a proclamation signed by U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower.
The statehood bill had been passed in March of 1959, but it contained a stipulation that the residents of the Hawaiian Islands would have to give their vote of approval. Three months later, they did so -- and by a huge margin.
Hawaii finally became the 50th state of the United States of America on this day. Although the Aloha State is made up of a chain of 122 volcanic islands spread out over 1,600 miles, only seven, at the southeastern end of the chain, are inhabited: Hawaii (the Big Island), Maui (the Valley Isle), Lanai (the Pineapple Isle), Molokai (the Friendly Isle), Kauai (the Garden Isle), Niihau (the Forbidden Island), and Oahu (the Gathering Place). Oahu is the home of the state capital, Honolulu, and about 75% of the state’s population ... a population that is truly a melting pot of all races and religions.
Hawaii is known for some of the most beautiful beaches in the world, mild tropical climate (the southernmost point in the United States is in Hawaii), and dramatic scenery. Although flowers like orchids, plumeria, pikake, tuberose, gardenia, anthurium, birds of paradise, ginger and protea bloom year round, Hawaii calls the hibiscus its state flower, specifically, the yellow hibiscus.
There are many creatures that are only found on Hawaiian soil or in its turquoise-blue ocean waters, but it’s the nene or Hawaiian goose that holds the title of state bird. Hawaii is also unusual in that it has no snakes (or billboards). It does, however, have a state fish: the humuhumunukunukuapua’a. It’s not really that hard to pronounce ... try it this way: humu-humu-nuku-nuku-a-pua-a. That’s better.
Hawaii is unique as a state for all of these reasons, but most of all because of its people and their Aloha Spirit. Aloha means love, affection, compassion, mercy, sympathy, pity, kindness, grace, charity ... and hello and good-bye.
The state motto of Hawaii is: Ua mau ke ea o ka aina i ka pono. = The life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness.
Those Were the Days, the Today in History service from 440 International
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