As a reminder, there will be no school on Friday, August 14th, due to Statehood Day. School resumes on Monday.
Happy Hawaii Statehood Day! Today, we commemorate the historic day in 1959 when Hawaii officially became the 50th state of the United States.
But why do we get this day off? Hawaii Statehood Day is a state holiday, recognized annually on the third Friday in August. This means state offices, banks, and public schools are closed to allow residents to reflect on and celebrate this significant milestone in Hawaii's history.
A Brief History of Statehood
The journey to statehood was a long and complex one. It all started with the overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy in 1893, followed by the establishment of the Republic of Hawaii. In 1898, Hawaii was annexed by the United States, becoming a U.S. territory. For decades, there were debates and movements both for and against statehood. It wasn't until August 21, 1959, that President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed the official proclamation, making Hawaii the newest addition to the nation.
