Editor’s note: The following remarks were made by Sen. Daniel K. Akaka last month on the floor of the U.S. Senate in support of a resolution recognizing and celebrating the 50th anniversary of Hawai‘i’s statehood. I rise to speak on
Editor’s note: The following remarks were made by Sen. Daniel K. Akaka last month on the floor of the U.S. Senate in support of a resolution recognizing and celebrating the 50th anniversary of Hawai‘i’s statehood.
I rise to speak on the resolution offered by my colleague and dear friend, Sen. Inouye. It is a resolution honoring the historic milestone of Hawai‘i’s 50th anniversary of statehood.
In the center of the Pacific, on islands rising from the bottom of the ocean, Hawai‘i joined our great and diverse nation as its 50th state — 50 years ago.
Like the 49 states that came before it, Hawai‘i has something unique to share with the world.
Everyone who is born in Hawai‘i — or comes to Hawai‘i — embraces the aloha spirit as a value and way of life.
The aloha spirit is good for the United States, and it is good for the world.
I was a teacher at Kamehameha Schools when Congress voted to make Hawai‘i the 50th state in March of 1959.
Firecrackers and sirens went off across the island of O‘ahu in celebration.
The bells at historic Kawaihao Church started to ring and hundreds of people gathered there.
The next day, the newspaper headlines hailed the good news.
My brother, Reverend Doctor Abraham Akaka, who was minister at Kawaihao, gave a sermon.
Brother Abe nicknamed Hawai‘i “The Aloha State,” and 50 years later, we still call it that.
I would like to quote a few words my brother said on that historic day in March of 1959:
“Aloha consists of this new attitude of heart, above negativism, above legalism. It is the unconditional desire to promote the true good of other people in a friendly spirit, out of a sense of kinship. Aloha seeks to do good, with no conditions attached. We do not do good only to those who do good to us. One of the sweetest things about the love of God, about Aloha, is that it welcomes the stranger and seeks his good. A person who has the spirit of Aloha loves even when the love is not returned. And such is the love of God.”
This is the meaning of aloha, Hawai‘i’s gift to the cultural fabric of the United States and the world.
While we celebrate this landmark anniversary next month, we must remember that the privileges of statehood came with obligations.
Hawai‘i, and the United States, have a sacred trust relationship with the indigenous people of Hawai‘i that still remains to be fulfilled.
In admitting Hawai‘i as the 50th State, Congress and the people of Hawai‘i have recognized the importance of addressing the needs of Native Hawaiians and preservation of their culture and traditions.
I am proud to continue this legacy, as we must move forward with that promise.
I congratulate Hawai‘i and its people on 50 years of statehood. I am proud to represent this great state in the Senate.
• Daniel K. Akaka became the first Native Hawaiian to serve in the U.S. Senate when he was appointed to the seat left vacant by the death of Spark Matsunaga in 1990. He has been re-elected four times since then. For more information, visit akaka.senate.gov.
