Recognizing And Celebrating The 50th Anniversary Of The Entry Of Hawaii Into The Union As The 50th State

Floor Speech

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Mr. INOUYE. Mr. President, 50 years ago next month, the 85th Congress of the United States voted to allow a tiny island archipelago made up of people of every race and creed and situated in the middle of the Pacific Ocean entry into the Union.

August 21, 2009, marks the 50th anniversary of the execution of Proclamation 3309, signed by President Dwight David Eisenhower, which admitted Hawaii into the Union as the 50th State.

On a personal note, 50 years ago today, I was elected by the people of Hawaii to serve as the first Member of the House of Representatives from the State of Hawaii. It is a moment I shall never forget. And on August 25, 1959, I had the great honor and privilege of standing behind the great President of the United States, Dwight David Eisenhower, when he signed Proclamation 3309.

The territory of Hawaii was annexed to the United States in 1898 by a joint resolution of Congress based on a treaty signed with the Hawaiian government.

For many years thereafter, many delegations of Congressmen and Senators visited the territory of Hawaii to consider the pleas submitted by generations of our people requesting statehood. Finally, during the 85th Congress in 1959, members of the Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs and the Subcommittee on Territorial and Insular Affairs, led by Congressman Leo W. O'Brien, visited the territory of Hawaii to make an inquiry into granting it statehood. The members of the committee met with local leaders and government officials in Hawaii and noted that the islands of Hawaii formed a unique and successful racial melting pot and claimed that if the rest of the Nation could mix as well, our democracy would be advanced by a century.

The State of Hawaii has been a rich cultural addition to the United States, thanks to the ancient culture of Native Hawaiians, the diverse multiracial society created by generations of Asian and European immigrants, and the stunning natural beauty of our tropical climate. Hawaii has produced the first Chinese and Japanese American Members of Congress, the first woman of color in Congress, and the first Native Hawaiian in the Senate. The Honorable Barack Obama, the first African-American President of the United States, was born and raised in Honolulu, HI.

Hawaii is much more than hula dancing, lovely beaches, and beautiful
weather. For example, 300 years ago, before Christopher Columbus crossed the Atlantic Ocean in search of India, Polynesians boarded double-hulled canoes and sailed north seeking a place called Havaiki. These ancient voyagers found Havaiki and settled there and slowly built their society and government. A kingdom emerged and a monarchy grew to gain the respect of nations around the world. The kingdom of Hawaii entered into treaties with the United Kingdom, France, Japan, and the United States. That kingdom was overthrown with the assistance of the U.S. military forces. But the Congress of the United States, realizing that the takeover was not done in a democratic fashion, recently issued an official apology to the people of Hawaii. It takes a great country like America to admit its wrongs.

Hawaii's location in the middle of the Pacific between the U.S. mainland and the nations of Asia has made it a major center of military defense for the United States. Pearl Harbor serves as a critical naval outpost, allowing our fleet to connect to the United States, Asia, and other Pacific nations. So critical is Pearl Harbor's location to our national defense that it was targeted by our enemies at the beginning of World War II. The bombing of Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, brought the United States into World War II and revealed the loyalty the people of Hawaii had for the United States and the sacrifices they were willing to make for their country. Thousands upon thousands of young men from Hawaii volunteered to serve in the U.S. Army during World War II. Senator DAN AKAKA and I were two of the volunteers.

Nearly 8 billion visitors from around the world each year are drawn to Hawaii's breathtaking beaches, scenic sites, and unique culture. Hawaii is home to one-fourth of the endangered species in the United States. We have eight national parks, including the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, which is the home to Kilauea, the most active volcano on Earth. Hawaii has truly added to the diversity and richness of the United States--culturally, racially, ecologically, and geographically.

Today, the Congress of the United States celebrates Hawaii as the 50th State to enter the Union.

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