The 50th state admitted to the US was Hawaii, on August 21, 1959. There are 137 islands that make up the entire chain of Hawaiian Islands. The islands are more than 2,000 miles away from any other place on Earth, developing an ecosystem that is rich in flora, fauna, and eco-friendly people. There are no snakes, no billboards, no gambling, and no private beaches. Hawaii is built upon a volcano, so the land is actually growing with every eruption. Of the 50 states in America, Hawaii is the only state in the US to grow coffee. Because of the volcanic soil, sugarcane, pineapples, macadamia nuts, bananas, and sandalwood also grows abundantly there. Hawaii is the only US state where the sun passes directly overhead. The state capitol is Honolulu, the state bird is the Hawaiian Goose (Nene), the state tree is the Candlenut, and the state flower is the Yellow Hibiscus.
The first indigenous peoples of Hawaii were the Polynesians between 400 and 1266 CE. They were known to have crossed over 2,000 miles of ocean to get there by double-hulled canoes called "Wa'a". The Hawaiian Kingdom was formed in 1795 when Kamehameha the Great conquered the islands of O'ahu, Maui, Moloka'i, and Lãna'i to form the kingdom. In 1810, Kaua'i and Ni'ihau were the last inhabited islands to join. Immigrants from Asia and the US arrived, and the Hawaiian Sovereignty movement continued to seek independence for the state. Daily life included fishing, raising animals, dancing, chanting, and worshipping the Divine.
Hawaii is divided into 12 moku, which are wedge-shaped districts that divide up the land. These were formed in order to for the eight districts to contain the resources needed for survival. Native Hawaiians have always lived with the land, nature, and Great Spirit. Before Captain James Hook arrived in 1778 from Britain, Native Hawaiians worked together in cooperation to develop infrastructure, produce food, and support their irrigation networks, roads, fishponds, and other responsibilities that required organization. After 1778, Native population declined with the spreading of diseases like measles, smallpox, and other virus' that spread sexually. Since they never experienced these particular new bugs, immunity was down and 90% (from 400,000 to 40,000 people) of Native Hawaiians died over the next hundred years. In 1820, Christian missionaries began settling in Hawaii, and the reigning King divided the land into 3 classifications: Crown, Government, and Konohiki land. Foreigners and Hawaiians could purchase "fee simple land", but they had to abide by very strict rules, pay for surveys, and keep up with land-owner requirements. Natives didn't have the money or resources to own land, so only 1% of the total land available land ended up in Native hands. Europeans introduced new crops like coffee, pineapple, and mango. The coffee industry grew between 1820 an 1840, and a law was passed to allow private ownership of the land. Westerners took advantage of this, and the best land was purchased by white settlers. They created large plantations for cash crops like coffee and sugar. The sugar trade boomed after the Civil War between 1861 and 1865. In 1849, diplomacy was formalized between the US and Hawaii, and in 1875, a Reciprocity Act was signed to allow imports without tariffs. American troops helped to overthrow the monarchy in January 1893, and a new Republic of Hawaii was created in 1894. The status of US Territory was finalized in 1900, and Roosevelt transferred the navy's fleets from Southern California to Pearl Harbor, HI. Pearl Harbor was attacked on 12-7-1941, and war was declared on Japan. In 1959, Alaska and Hawaii joined the union. Hawaii became the 50th state on August 21st, 1959.
Because Hawaii has played an important role in trade markets across the Pacific, it has become the official "melting pot" of the country with its unique blend of ethnicities. By the 1900's, Native Hawaiians diminished by 50% due to the cross-culture marriages. Natives today continue to try and seek measures to protect their ancient traditions, and the Hawaiian Language Immersion Program (HLIM) was established to help young Hawaiians connect with their culture, language, and Hawaiian ways.
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