When Did Hawaii Become a State?

Hawaii was the last state to join the Union. Under Dwight Eisenhower, statehood was finally granted to Hawaii on August 21, 1959. During the fight for statehood, the Kingdom of Hawaii supported the United States in World War II and the Korean War.

Historians believe that the islands were first occupied over 2000 years ago. Polynesians came to the islands in large double-ended canoes, probably from the Marquesas.

After almost 1000 years of Polynesian occupation, a second set of settlers migrated from Bora Bora during the 11th century.

Then, In 1778, an English navigator for explorer James Cook named the grouping of islands the Sandwich Islands. They were named after the voyage’s financial backer, the Earl of Sandwich. This was the first contact that the islands had with Europeans. 

Kingdom of Hawaii

Local chiefs ruled the islands until 1795 when King Kamehameha subjugated all the islands in the chain. The islands then became the Kingdom of Hawaii. They were recognized as an independent nation by the major political powers of the world at that time, including the United States, the British and The French.

The Kamehameha family ruled the islands until 1887. During their reign, the island kingdoms enjoyed peaceful relations and advanced their culture greatly. The government established a two-bodied legislature, instituted public schools and private land ownership.

Revolts by Sugar Leaders

Attempts to take over the government were very active during the mid to late 1800s, led by the sugar leaders. The sugar leaders were losing money because of the high tariffs that were being placed on Hawaiian sugar imports to the United States. To alleviate this situation, they organized a “committee” to force the overthrow of the monarchy and to drive the state towards statehood.

They created a Constitution for the Kingdom of Hawaii and forced the Queen to sign it into law under the threat of American and British troops landing on the shores of Hawaii to support the rebellion.

The sugar barrons of Hawaii carried out the manipulation of the government that included the overthrow of the legitimate monarchy of the Hawaiian Islands, the installation of a provisional government and then took the Islands of Hawaii on a long journey to statehood.

Hawaii as a Territory

In 1893, a Provisional Government was established and ruled until 1894 when the Republic of Hawaii was established. The change of power in Washington during the 1896 Presidential election then brought a president that was favorable to the idea of annexation of the state of Hawaii into the Union. Hawaii then stayed a territory for 60 years following the establishment of the Republic of Hawaii.