“In this diverse society, we should not isolate ourselves socially, politically, economically or physically.”

~Daniel K. Inouye, Senator, U.S. Congress 

November 21, 1958: Maui County Board of Supervisors Resolution 84

Representing 42,597 citizens of Maui County the Board of Supervisors unanimously approved Resolution 84, stating that they

“…respectfully request and urge the Congress of the United States to grant immediate statehood to the Territory of Hawaii…”

The Goal was Democracy

Hawaii was officially proclaimed the 50th state of the United States by President Eisenhower on August 21, 1959.  The presidential action was followed by the unfurling of a new fifty-star flag, which became official the following Independence Day.

Much of the decades-long opposition to Hawaii statehood came from Southern members of Congress who took a dim view of the mixed racial strains of Hawaii’s population.  But in mid-March 1959 Congress approved Hawaii’s statehood bill setting up the required plebiscite and statehood elections. …