Quote of the Week: (August 18, 2026)

Statehood Day: Honoring Both Sides of its History

By: Elsie Corrigan and Eliza Caton

Statehood Day: What Even Is It?

August 21. A normal day for some, but for Hawai’i it marks a day of importance and new beginnings. On August 21, 1959, Hawai’i officially became the 50th state of the United States. To be able to truly celebrate Statehood Day, we must first understand the history behind it. 

The official declaration to add Hawai’i to the U.S. began on February 11, 1919, when Prince Jonah Kūhiō Kalanianaʻole first presented Congress with a Hawaiian Statehood Bill. Despite review, the bill didn’t pass. Fast forward to 1940. Support for Hawai’i’s admission had been steadily increasing over the years, with as many as two of three citizens voting in favor, according to History.com. In the years that followed WW2’s conclusion, many more bills were drafted. In the end, Hawai’i’s addition had been proposed many more times before finally passing on August 21, 1959, with President Dwight D. Eisenhower signing the proclamation, according to National Archives. After decades, Hawai’i had officially achieved Statehood. 

Statehood Day: Why Do We Celebrate It?

While it is a state holiday, not all understand why we celebrate it. So, why do we honor Statehood Day? Well, to start, it marks the day Hawai’i finally joined the U.S. after many previous failed attempts and setbacks - a way to celebrate the efforts of everyone involved in Hawai’i’s road to Statehood. Additionally–and perhaps the more general reason it’s celebrated–it marks a day of connection and diversity. When Hawai’i became the 50th state, it allowed the citizens of the United States to connect with new people and learn more about different cultures. It made the U.S. more diverse and was an essential time of growth for America.

Throughout the state of Hawai’i, people celebrate Statehood Day in various ways. Examples include family and friends gatherings and educational activities that reflect upon and talk about Hawai’i’s history. However, there is so much more. What are some ways you can celebrate Statehood Day and spread the word on Hawai’i’s Statehood milestone?

Statehood Day: Remembrance of the Past

According to Congress.gov, on November 23, 1993, the United States Congress passed the U.S. Public Law 103-150, also known as the Apology Resolution. Signed by President Bill Clinton, the resolution officially acknowledged the illegal overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom (November 17th, 1893). Additionally, it states that the actions detailed within the Apology Resolution led to the suppression of the Native Hawaiian people and their cultural identities. 

Overall, Statehood Day has different meanings to different people. It is important to recognize both sides of Statehood Day’s history and to treat each one with a sense of  acknowledgement and aloha.

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