August 21, 1959

On this day in history in 1959 Hawaii became the 50th state.

Settling the Islands

Queen Liliuokalani

The first settlers of the Hawaiian Islands were voyagers from Polynesia who arrived in the 8th century. In the 1800s the islands opened up to trade through American traders who came to exploit the islands' sandalwood. This was also when the islands' sugar industry was introduced.

American missionaries and planters occupied the islands and brought great changes. Their presence impacted the islands' political, cultural, economic, and religious life. In 1840 a constitutional monarchy was created and the Hawaiian monarch lost much of their power. The last reigning monarch was Queen Liliuokalani in the late 19th century.

Completing the United States

In 1893 Americans on the island supported a division of the U.S. Marines who deposed the last Queen. A year later the Republic of Hawaii was created as a U.S. protectorate. The United States began using Pearl Harbor as a naval base by the end of the 19th century. The islands eventually became a U.S. territory and in 1959 it entered the Union as the 50th state. President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed the proclamation admitting Hawaii into the Union and then ordered for an American flag featuring 50 stars in staggered rows. The new American flag that is known today became official on July 4, 1960.