III 

111TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 225 

Recognizing and celebrating the 50th anniversary of the entry of Hawaii 

into the Union as the 50th State. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

JULY 28, 2009 

Mr. INOUYE (for himself and Mr. AKAKA) submitted the following resolution; 

which was considered and agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Recognizing and celebrating the 50th anniversary of the 

entry of Hawaii into the Union as the 50th State. 

Whereas August 21, 2009, marks the 50th anniversary of 

Proclamation 3309, signed by Dwight D. Eisenhower, 

which admitted Hawaii into the Union in compliance with 

the Hawaii Admission Act (Public Law 86–3; 73 Stat. 

4), enacted into law on March 18, 1959; 

Whereas Hawaii is a place like no other, with people like no 

other, and bridges mainland United States to the AsiaPacific region; 

Whereas the 44th President of the United States, Barack 

Obama, was born in Hawaii on August 4, 1961; 

Whereas Hawaii contributed to a more diverse Congress by 

electing— 


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•SRES 225 ATS 

(1) the first Native Hawaiian member of Congress, 

Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalaniana’ole; 

(2) the first Asian-American Senator, Hiram Fong; 

(3) the first woman of color elected to Congress, 

Patsy T. Mink; 

(4) the first Native Hawaiian to serve in the Senate, 

Daniel Kahikina Akaka; and 

(5) the first Japanese American to serve in the Senate, Daniel Ken Inouye; 

Whereas Hawaii is an example to the rest of the world of 

unity and positive race relations; 

Whereas Pearl Harbor is a strategic United States military 

base in the Pacific and became a national historic site 

after the December 7, 1941, surprise aerial attack by 

Japan that thrust the United States into World War II; 

Whereas Hawaii is home to 1⁄4 of the endangered species in 

the United States; 

Whereas Hawaii has 8 national parks, which preserve volcanoes, complex ecosystems, a colony for victims of Hansen’s disease, and other sites of historical and cultural 

significance; 

Whereas Kilauea ranks among the most active volcanoes on 

Earth; 

Whereas President George W. Bush nominated the 

Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument to the 

United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization World Heritage Centre for consideration for 

the World Heritage List; 

Whereas Hawaii has produced musical legends ranging from 

traditional favorites such as Alfred Apaka, Don Ho, and 

Genoa Keawe, to Hawaii renaissance performers such as 


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•SRES 225 ATS 

Eddie Kamae, Raymond Kane, Gabby Pahinui, Israel 

Kamakawiwo’ole, the Brothers Cazimero, and the 

Beamer Brothers, to contemporary stars such as Keali’i 

Reichel, Ledward Kaapana, Jake Shimabukuro, and 

Raiatea Helm; 

Whereas Hawaii is culturally rich because the Hawaiian culture has been protected through Hawaiian language immersion schools, hula competitions such as the Merrie 

Monarch Festival, canoeing voyages undertaken by vessels such as the Hokule’a, and the continuing historic 

preservation of Hawaiian traditions; 

Whereas the Hawaii Statehood Commission held a Joint Session of the Hawaii State Legislature in honor of statehood and will celebrate the milestone with a public discussion and the arrival of the USS Hawaii; and 

Whereas for all of these reasons Hawaii is a truly unique 

State: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate recognizes and celebrates 

2 the 50th anniversary of the entry of Hawaii into the Union 

3 as the 50th State. 

Æ 


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