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See this series as it appeared in The Honolulu Advertiser: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3




High passions, mixed feelings, 50 years on
The hallmarks of Hawai'i's statehood era are easy enough to identify: the rise of tourism as Hawai'i's leading economic engine, the resultant boom period of investment and development, the dramatic growth in population, the re-examination of Hawaiian history and culture brought about by the Hawaiian Renaissance, the wane of the Big Five and the dominance of the Democratic Party in local politics.


Ike was gracious in accepting a lei
I was a freshman at Skidmore College when the governor of Hawai'i, William Quinn, chose me to represent our new state as its 1959 Cherry Blossom Princess to the Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington,...

Legacy of 50 Video
The imprints contribute to the story of Hawai'i since statehood. From culture to business to politics and beyond, these 50 have helped in myriad ways to define the Aloha State. Since 1959, Hawai'i...

John Burns Video
In the crucial first years that followed statehood, as growth swept over Hawai'i with hurricane force, the architect of change was John A. Burns, who served three terms as governor.
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Hawaii Statehood Conference
When: Friday, Aug. 21, 2009
Where: Hawaii Convention Center View map »
Cost: $30 per delegate; $15 per student delegate
Highlights: Top experts discuss the 21st century economy, education for the next generation, tomorrow's energy, technology in our lives and Native Hawaiians in a sea of change.
Registration: Online pre-registration ends Monday, Aug. 17, at 5 p.m. After that, on-site registration at the convention center is available.
Full schedule: View a Full Statehood conference schedule

The Fab 50
Who do you think are the teams and athletes who made a difference since statehood. Vote, and read our series on major figures who transformed sports in Hawaii. More »



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50 Who Mattered
Legacy of 50
The imprints contribute to the story of Hawai'i since statehood. From culture to business to politics and beyond, these 50 have helped in myriad ways...
442nd RCT
The valor and exploits of the World War II-era 442nd Regimental Combat Team are the stuff of legend: Japanese-American men from Hawai'i and Mainland...
Winona Beamer
She was a teacher, dancer and a storyteller but above all, Winona "Auntie Nona" Beamer was a fervent guardian of Hawaiian culture.
John Bellinger
John Bellinger, who rose from bank teller to the chairman and chief executive officer of First Hawaiian Bank, once attributed the firm's success �...
John Burns
In the crucial first years that followed statehood, as growth swept over Hawai'i with hurricane force, the architect of change was John A. Burns, who...
Read more Statehood profiles

Statehood: Before and After
A bold bid for equality
Born of a desire to shed "second-class" status as a U.S. territory (and with it the social, economic and political encumbrances it perpetuated) and...
Agriculture's deep roots
There was, the joke goes, diversified agriculture in Hawai'i even before the demise of the plantation system: You could have your sugar raw,...
Military-Hawaii ties
When Col. Mike Lundy, commander of the 25th Combat Aviation Brigade, first arrived in Hawai'i, he was struck by what he saw as a "phenomenally close"...
Tourism leads economy
In 1959, military spending outstripped the combined revenue generated by Hawai'i's sugar and pineapple industries, the pillars upon which Hawai'i's...
Hawaiian renaissance
There are myriad measures by which to quantify the Native Hawaiian experience of the statehood era.
Read more Statehood history
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