The Hawaii Admission Act is signed into law.
The Hawaii Admission Act, signed into law by President Dwight D. Eisenhower on March 18, 1959, officially granted statehood to Hawaii, making it the 50th state of the United States. The act followed a territorial history that began with the U.S. annexation of Hawaii in 1898 and its designation as an organized territory in 1900. After several decades of political movements advocating for statehood, a statewide referendum was held on June 27, 1959, where an overwhelming 94% of voters approved joining the Union. The act also established Hawaii’s government structure, affirmed its rights under the U.S. Constitution, and designated Honolulu as the state capital. However, it notably excluded certain islands, such as Palmyra Atoll, from statehood. Hawaii officially became a state on August 21, 1959, marking a significant moment in U.S. history and further integrating the Pacific islands into the American political and economic system.