Hawaii State Day, Motto, and Nickname

STATE DAY Third Friday of August STATUS Official DATE OF ADMISSION TO UNITED STATES August 21, 1959 RANKING IN STATE ADMISSION 50th FORMER DESIGNATIONS Kingdom of Hawaii Republic of Hawaii U.S. Territory of Hawaii HISTORY Following the death of the Hawaiian ruler Chief Kahekili in 1794, the islands were beset by civil war. In 1795 Chief Kamehameha I took firm control, establishing the Kingdom of Hawaii in 1810. The House of Kamehameha remained in power for five generations. The islands experienced civil war again at the end of the Kamehameha reign, and were subjected to several attempts of overthrow by both foreign governments and their own subjects. In 1893 the ruling queen was deposed by a provisional government. In 1898, the United States annexed the Hawaiian Islands and declared it a territory, leading the way to its eventual statehood. In March 1959, the Hawaii Admission Act was signed into law by President Dwight D. Eisenhower. The voters of Hawaii accepted statehood on June 27 of that year. MOTTO Ua Mau ke Ea o ka Aina i ka Pono ("The Life of the Land is Perpetuated in Righteousness") Hawaii’s motto has been attributed to the 19th century Hawaiian monarch King Kamehameha III, who proclaimed it after Hawaii was returned from a brief cession to the British Empire in 1843. The phrase was also displayed on the Kingdom of Hawaii’s Coat of Arms. NICKNAMES "The Aloha State" (official), "Paradise of the Pacific," "The Pineapple State," "The Rainbow State," "The Youngest State" Hawaii’s official nickname, "The Aloha State," was designated by the state legislature in 1959. Aloha is a traditional greeting in Hawaii meaning both "hello" and "goodbye." Known for its lush beauty and warm, temperate setting, Hawaii has been referred to as the "Paradise of the Pacific." The pineapple industry is a driving force in Hawaii, and a symbol of its tropical environment. Rainbows are also a symbol of Hawaii’s beauty and are frequently seen in this tropical paradise. However, the expression "The Rainbow State" is also meant to reflect Hawaii’s diverse cultural backgrounds. Hawaii is also "The Youngest State" in the Union to date. -World Trade Press