Hawaii was admitted as a U.S. state on this day in 1959, a whole 18 years after it became a symbol of American resilience during the infamous Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor in World War II. President Dwight Eisenhower signed the proclamation while also outlining what the newly adjusted 50-state U.S. flag would look like, which became official the next year.
Native Hawaiians had lived on the islands for over 1,000 years when Captain James Cook of the British Navy came across them in 1778. Over a century later, the U.S. military and American expatriates overthrew the islands' monarchy. Hawaii became a U.S. territory in 1900 after its pivotal role in the Spanish-American War showed how important the islands were to U.S. security. Its admission as a state would occur the same year that Alaska was admitted.
You can read more about Hawaii's admission to the U.S. as a state on History.com.
