Recognizing and celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the entry of Hawaii into the Union as the 50th State.

Madam Speaker, mahalo nui. Thank you very much.

I thank Representative Clay very much for his gracious introduction to this resolution.

Madam Speaker, I am filled with great emotion today. There are a lot of dates being celebrated. Representative Clay's birthday is today, and, of course, we want to wish him a very happy birthday.

I introduced this resolution on my birthday, June 26. It was about that time 50 years ago that I understood that I would be able to go to Hawaii. Just before that I had been informed that I had received a teaching assistantship at the University of Hawaii and that I would be soon on my way at the end of the summer to begin what became 50 years in Hawaii. So I have that same anniversary.

The statehood, of course, came August 21, and the first week in September, Neil Abercrombie arrived in Honolulu and knew almost immediately that I would never leave if given the opportunity to stay.

It is also going to be the birthday, of course, in a week or so, of President Obama, born in Kapiolani Hospital, just down the road from where I lived.

As I said, it is great emotion for me, a great time of nostalgia. I arrived in Hawaii at the same time as President Obama's father. We met those first days in our matriculation at the University of Hawaii. Of course, I could not possibly conceive at that time that the young man who was to be born out of the union of Ann Dunham and Barak, Sr., would become President of the United States. So there is a great confluence of history taking place over the next month or so with the entry of the 50th State, the last State of the Union.

As Mr. Clay indicated, there are also some very, very interesting firsts, if you will. We were maybe the last State to come into the Union, but we had some very, very interesting firsts, and I want to congratulate Representative Bachmann on her superb pronunciation of Prince Kuhio's last name, Kalanianaole. You said it perfectly. Thank you very much indeed.

I know you must have struggled with that, because I remember my first day in the classroom, the first Saturday, 8 o'clock in the morning, teaching the lab course in sociology, determined to say the Hawaiian names right, and I remember the first one was Samson Poomahealani, a center on the football team. He became my good friend, and we celebrated the 50th anniversary of our friendship just the past month when we got together. Samson went on to do great things with the labor movement in this country.

It is that kind of occasion. You can see it on my face, you can hear it in my voice. This is a time of great joy for us.

Yes, the first Asian American Senator, Republican Senator Hiram Fong, lived almost a century. He was the first Asian American, Chinese American, Senator. And, of course, Patsy Mink, our beloved Patsy Mink, whom we miss every day. And Danny Akaka, perhaps the best-loved person in the Congress, of whom never a bad word has been said. Don't we all wish the same could be said of us? And, of course, the Congressional Medal of Honor winner, the third longest-serving Senator in the United States, Daniel K. Inouye, serves now as the chairman of the Appropriations Committee, the first Japanese American to serve in the Senate.

There are some other dates I think of interest to all of us; 1778, James Cook comes to Waimea Bay near Kauai. Then in 1795, Kamehameha I, whose statue is very prominent in the Visitors Center right now, establishing the Hawaiian monarchy.

On February 24, 1954, Mr. Speaker, a 250-pound petition containing 120,000 signatures in favor of statehood was delivered to the Congress, and then in March of 1959, this House of Representatives passed the Hawaii statehood bill, 323-89. I am sure the 89 all had a chance to visit and regretted their votes against it. Of course, then President Eisenhower signed the proclamation, making us the 50th State on August 24.

So, Mr. Speaker, I can say from the bottom of my heart that Hawaii has given everything to me. I never conceived, as I indicated earlier, that I would ever have a chance to represent Hawaii in Congress. It is more than an honor and a privilege to do so.

So I now ask all then to join with us in this joyous occasion where we have the opportunity to celebrate friendships and relationships of decades' standing to celebrate the transition of Hawaii from the time of a pre-feudal kingdom, a kingdom, a shotgun republic, a territory, and now a State of the Union, the last State of the Union to this time.

We are filled with a great sense of gratitude for that which has been given to us over these past 50 years, and, of course, pledge at this time that even though we were last to join the Union, we are first among those who appreciate, understand and take great pride in being a State of the United States of America.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my good friend, the gentleman from Missouri, for his management of this important bill, and also the gentlelady from Minnesota for her support. I didn't realize there were fish in Minnesota that big. Maybe if she would catch a 1,000-pound marlin, she would see how big a 1,000-pound marlin would be. But, at any rate, I thank her for her support.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 593, recognizing and celebrating the 50th anniversary of the entry of Hawaii into the Union as the 50th State. I commend my colleagues, Congressman Abercrombie and Mazie Hirono, for their introduction of this resolution.

My strong interest in this legislation, Mr. Speaker, is that half of my life was spent in Hawaii during my youth that I spent there. The eight main islands of Hawaii, Maui, Lanai, Kahoolawe, Oahu, Molokai, Kauai and Niihau span over 1,500 miles in the Pacific Ocean, and Hawaii is the only State comprised of islands. It is home to one-fourth of the endangered species list, as well as eight national parks, which serve to protect volcanoes, rain forest, coral reefs and other complex ecosystems.

In addition to being visually astounding, Hawaii was one of the first States to significantly contribute to the diversity of Congress. The first Native Hawaiian, the first Asian American, the first woman of color, the first Native Hawaiian to serve in the Senate, all hailed from the great State of Hawaii.

A favorite of Elvis Presley, whom I had the privilege of meeting when I was working as a youth performer at the Polynesian Cultural Center, Hawaii is also legendary for some of the most famous singers in Don Ho, Melveen Leed, the late Alfred Apaka and Genoa Keawe.

The State also has made great efforts to preserve its culture with Hawaiian language immersion schools, hula competitions and traditional canoe voyages. And what a great thing to remember that it was Duke Kahanamoku, the father of surfing, which now has become an international sport. And a byproduct of surfing, by the way, happens to be the skateboard, which originated from the great State of Hawaii.

I also want to note, Mr. Speaker, Hawaii is proud to give to our Nation her first native son, who is currently the 44th president of the United States, President Barack Obama. At the height of the presidential campaign last year, Mr. Speaker, I remember there was a national blogger going around saying that I was working as a special agent of Barack Obama, and the reason for my travel to Indonesia and to also visit the school in Jakarta, where Barack Obama had attended, was to destroy any records that would indicate that President Obama was born in Indonesia, which would obviously have him disqualified to run as a candidate for President.

Well, Mr. Speaker, this blog continues today, giving such gross misinformation to the American people. I just want to say it is absolute nonsense, and those responsible for this blog should stop it, as I am sure there are better things that they can do than to discredit our President. President Obama was born in Kapiolani Hospital, Honolulu, Hawaii, period.

Mr. Speaker, the State of Hawaii is also remembered for Pearl Harbor. Yes, it has its consequences, reminiscent also of the tremendous disservice and the problem that we did in mistreatment of over 100,000 Japanese Americans. They are Americans who happened to be of Japanese ancestry.

It has also produced the 100th Battalion 442nd Infantry, the most decorated unit ever in the history of the United States Army, with 18,000 individual decorations for heroism and bravery in the field of battle, over 9,000 Purple Hearts, 52 Distinguished Service Crosses, and, ironically, only one Medal of Honor, but we corrected that mistake. We now have 19 Japanese Americans who were awarded the Medal of Honor, which, as my colleague from Hawaii (Mr. Abercrombie) said, Senator Inouye was one of those recipients to receive the Medal of Honor. For 50 years, members of the unit in Hawaii have brought unique and diverse elements to the culture of the United States. I think it was Michelle Obama who said, ``If you want to understand more about the President, go to Hawaii, and you will understand his sense of philosophy, his sense of caring, his sense of wanting to share and to make sure that we have proper treatment and how we should be treating our fellow human beings.''

To strive to support the endeavors of the islands of the Pacific and to not hesitate to offer any resounding support, I urge my colleagues to support this resolution. I think it is worthwhile, and we ought to give due recognition to the great State of Hawaii. Again, I thank my good friend from Missouri.

Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I rise today in support of House Resolution 593.

This summer, on August 21, our Nation will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the entry of the beautiful island of Hawaii into the United States. It was in 1959, Madam Speaker, that then-President Dwight David Eisenhower signed Proclamation 3309 proclaiming the beautiful State of Hawaii as our 50th State.

Hawaii is one of four United States that were independent prior to statehood. The Kingdom of Hawaii existed from 1810 through 1893, and it was an independent republic between 1894 and 1898, when it became a United States territory. It was in 1900 that Hawaii was granted self- governance; and though many attempts were made to achieve statehood, Hawaii remained a territory for nearly 60 years.

The road to statehood for Hawaii was not without its challenges. One of the most devastating times in the history of not only Hawaii but of the Nation as well was the attack on Pearl Harbor and the outbreak of World War II, which interrupted the drive for statehood. But, finally, on August 21 victory was achieved in 1959 when Hawaii was admitted to the Union.

During the last 50 years, Hawaii has contributed immeasurably to the richness of our way of life here in the United States. The contributions of Asian Pacific Americans have enhanced and benefited our rich cultural heritage in so many ways, not the least of which include the arts, sciences, mathematics, sports, commerce, and many other aspects of American culture, not the least of which is great American tourism.

Hawaii has also contributed to the diversity of our Congress by electing, as my colleague said, the Native Hawaiian Members of Congress: Prince Jonah Kalaniana'ole; the first Asian American Member as well, as my colleague mentioned, Mr. Hiram Fong; the first woman of color, and we are so pleased, Patsy Mink; and the first Native Hawaiian to serve in the Senate, Daniel Akaka.

It is well known that Hawaii is home to some of the country's most beautiful landmarks and landscapes and some of the most diverse weather as well in the United States, including eight national parks, which preserve volcanoes, our Nation's fragile ecosystem, and the sites of historical national significance.

Hawaiians are also known to be a people with a great sense of pride in their history, their tradition, which can be found in their traditional music, dance, and sporting events.

Our Nation is so grateful to the contributions of Native Hawaiians. But most of all it is the stunning beauty of these tropical islands that leave many residents and visitors with a desire to share in the experiences of our 50th State and return again and again and again for Hawaii's wonderful, not-to-be-repeated hospitality.

Hawaii truly is a place like no other with a people like no other. And this August we all gather to recognize and celebrate the 50th anniversary of the entry of Hawaii into the Union as the 50th State.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I, too, would like to extend my congratulations to my colleague, the distinguished gentleman Mr. Clay, on his birthday today. It is also my brother's birthday today, and we are so thrilled for this anniversary.

I come from a State which has recently celebrated its sesquicentennial, 150 years, and we know Hawaii will be even more beautiful when Hawaii celebrates its sesquicentennial.

We send a lot of Minnesota dollars to Hawaii with all the tourists that we send. Our climate, you may not have noticed, is a little different from that of Hawaii. Minnesotans love to visit, and we extend the invitation to come back and enjoy our hospitality.

We have a lot of shoreline, too. We have about 15,000 lakes, and our fish are about this big, our muskies. So please come and fish in Minnesota, and we will return the favor and often come to visit the beautiful State of Hawaii.

Mr. Speaker, with that, I yield back.

Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 593) recognizing and celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the entry of Hawaii into the Union as the 50th State, as amended.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks.

Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I rise in support of House Resolution 593, a resolution recognizing and celebrating the 50th anniversary of the entry of Hawaii into the Union as our 50th State.

The gentleman from Hawaii, Mr. Neal Abercrombie, introduced this measure on June 26, 2009; and having met all of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform requirements and criteria, the bill is now being considered today on the House floor. I should add that the measure comes to the floor with bipartisan support from over 56 cosponsors, demonstrating this body's eagerness to celebrate the admittance of our 50th State, the Aloha State.

Hawaii is one of our country's great treasures. Its cultural heritage is rooted in centuries of precolonial history, and the State continues to protect it with efforts such as Hawaiian language immersion schools and cultural centers. It is home to Pearl Harbor, the headquarters of the U.S. Navy's Pacific Fleet and the site of the surprise attack that led the U.S. to enter the Second World War. Its eight national parks preserve rich natural beauty and intricate ecosystems that support one- fourth of the endangered species in the United States.

Hawaii also contributes to the racial and ethnic diversity of our Nation and of this Congress. It elected this body's first woman of color, Patsy T. Mink; as well as its first Asian American, Hiram Fong. It has also elected Native Hawaiians to Congress, including Senator Daniel Akaka. The State also enjoys being the childhood home State of our current Commander in Chief, President Barack Obama.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in celebrating the 50th anniversary of the State of Hawaii by supporting this measure.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, at this time I would like to yield 5 minutes to my good friend and proud native of Hawaii (Mr. Abercrombie).

I yield an additional 1 minute to the gentleman.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman, first for the happy birthday wish, and I fish a lot, too, so I will try to make it to Minnesota also to catch some of those big, whopping fish.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Hawaii (Ms. Hirono).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to my friend, the delegate from American Samoa (Mr. Faleomavaega).

(Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my good friend from American Samoa for that interesting history and perspective on Hawaii. I want to urge my colleagues to join me in celebrating the 50th anniversary of Hawaii's entrance into the Union as our 50th State by supporting this measure.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I join my colleagues in wishing Mr. Clay a happy birthday.

I rise in strong support of H. Res. 593, recognizing the 50th anniversary of Hawaii's admission as the 50th State of the Union on August 21, 1959.

As my colleagues have mentioned, Hawaii brings a lot to this Nation. Our strategic location in the Pacific, our example of tolerance with our multicultural population and mix of cultures, our special relationship with and understanding of the Asia-Pacific region, and the physical beauty and ecological diversity of our islands are just a few of the assets we bring to this Nation.

I have very personal memories about the day Hawaii became a State. I was in elementary school at Koko Head Elementary in Honolulu and was given the honor of pinning the 50th star on our school flag at a special school assembly before sending the flag up the flagpole.

All Hawaii celebrated that day. To many, statehood represented recognition of a State whose multiethnic, multicultural base was different from that of any other State, but whose sons and daughters were just as American as the people of the other 49 States.

1959 was also the year I became a naturalized U.S. citizen, and apparently was also the year that my colleague, Neil Abercrombie, came to Hawaii. And things haven't been the same there since. Hawaii is a great State, and it has given me opportunities that I never would have had had my mother not brought me to this wonderful, beautiful State.

But we must always remember that the 50th State is also the native land of Hawaii's indigenous population, the Native Hawaiians. I am hopeful that this year we will be able to move forward to a reconciliation with the Native Hawaiian people, who lost their country and queen, by passing the Native Hawaii Government Reorganization Act. This act will provide the Native Hawaiians with the same rights of self-determination enjoyed by American Indians and Alaskan Natives.

Hawaii's population is made up of persons of Native Hawaiian, Japanese, Chinese, Irish, German, Portuguese, Puerto Rican, Filipino, French, Scottish, Korean, Samoan, Dutch, Tongan, Vietnamese, and African descent and more, plus combinations of these various ethnicities. It is not unusual, for example, for someone to identify themselves as Hawaiian, German, Chinese and Filipino. Although we have not eliminated prejudice, the people of Hawaii have learned to live together and to enjoy the richness that the mix of cultures has brought to our home.

Today we also celebrate the achievements of people from Hawaii whose notable efforts have paved the way for other Americans, such as Olympic champion and cultural ambassador Duke Kahanamoku, astronaut Ellison Onizuka, as mentioned previously Congresswoman Patsy Mink and President Barack Obama, to name a few.

I urge my colleagues to vote for H. Res. 593.