On August 21, 1959, Hawaii was admitted to the Union as the 50th state. The decision followed a statehood referendum in which voters in the territory strongly supported joining the United States. Statehood recognized the islands’ strategic importance in the Pacific and their growing population. Many residents welcomed the change, while some Native Hawaiians and others raised concerns about the history of annexation. Hawaii’s admission completed the current roster of U.S. states. The event further diversified the country’s cultural and geographic profile.
