IV 

111TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 593 

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

into the Union as the 50th State. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JUNE 26, 2009 

Mr. ABERCROMBIE (for himself and Ms. HIRONO) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform 

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 

President Dwight D. Eisenhower’s signing of Proclamation 3309, which admitted Hawaii into the Union in compliance with the Hawaii Admission Act, enacted by the 

United States Congress on March 18, 1959; 

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

no other’’ and bridges the mainland United States to the 

Asia-Pacific region; 

Whereas the 44th President of the United States, Barack 

Obama, was born in Hawaii; 

Whereas Hawaii has contributed to the diversity of Congress 

in electing the first Native Hawaiian member of ConVerDate Nov 24 2008 22:35 Jun 27, 2009 Jkt 079200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR593.IH HR593

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•HRES 593 IH 

gress, Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalaniana‘ole, the first AsianAmerican member, Hiram Fong, the first woman of 

color, Patsy T. Mink, and the first Native Hawaiian to 

serve in the Senate, Daniel Kahikina Akaka; 

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

unity and positive race relations; 

Whereas Pearl Harbor is a strategic military base for the 

U.S. in the Pacific and also a historical site for the Nation, being the location of the December 7, 1941, surprise Japanese aerial attack that thrust the Nation 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 Hansen’s disease colony, and 

other sites of historical and cultural significance; 

Whereas Kilauea ranks among the most active volcanoes on 

Earth; 

Whereas President Bush nominated the Papahanaumokuakea 

Marine National Monument to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization World Heritage Centre for consideration to 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 

Eddie Kamae, Raymond Kane, Gabby Pahinui, Israel 

Kamakawiwo‘ole, the Brothers Cazimero, and the 

Beamer Brothers, and continuing on to contemporary 

stars such as Keali‘i Reichel, Ledward Kaapana, Jake 

Shimabukuro, and Raiatea Helm; 


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•HRES 593 IH 

Whereas Hawaii is culturally rich, as the Hawaiian culture 

has been protected through Hawaiian language immersion schools, hula competitions such as the Merrie Monarch Festival, canoeing voyages undertaken by vessels 

like the Hokule‘a, and the continuing historic preservation of Hawaiian traditions; 

Whereas the Hawaii Statehood Commission has held a Joint 

Session of the Hawaii State Legislature in honor of 

statehood and will be celebrating this milestone with a 

public discussion and with 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 House of Representatives recog2 nizes and celebrates the 50th Anniversary of the entry of 

3 Hawaii into the Union as the 50th State. 

Æ 


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