Hawaii became the 50th state of the United States on August 21, 1959.

Quick Historical Timeline

Hawaii's path to statehood was a decades-long journey marked by political shifts and public support.

  • 1898 : Annexed as a U.S. territory after the overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy in 1893.
  • March 18, 1959 : President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed the Hawaii Admission Act into law.
  • June 1959 : Residents voted overwhelmingly (over 93-94%) in favor of statehood in a referendum.
  • August 21, 1959 : Eisenhower issued the proclamation officially admitting Hawaii as the 50th state.

This process followed World War II, when Hawaii's loyalty and economic strength bolstered the case for full integration.

Key Milestones Table

Event| Date| Details
---|---|---
Overthrow of Monarchy| 1893| Led to U.S. influence and eventual annexation. 5
Territorial Status| 1900| Formalized after annexation in 1898. 7
Admission Act Signed| March 18, 1959| Congress approved; cleared path for referendum. 9
Referendum Approval| June 27, 1959| 94% voted yes on statehood ballot. 1
Official Statehood| August 21, 1959| Proclamation signed; Hawaii joins Union. 13

Why It Took So Long

Statehood faced hurdles like geographic distance, racial prejudice concerns on the mainland, and debates over military strategy in the Pacific. Post-WWII, Hawaii's diverse population proved its allegiance, shifting momentum—voters wanted direct say in governance and national matters. Native Hawaiians later voiced marginalization amid economic booms.

Today, Statehood Day is celebrated on the third Friday of August, reflecting on this pivotal moment that linked the islands culturally and commercially to the U.S. Pacific Rim. No major recent developments alter this history as of February 2026.

TL;DR : Hawaii joined as the 50th state on August 21, 1959, after a 1959 act, referendum, and presidential proclamation.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.