Tuesday, Aug. 17, 1999 | 3:09 a.m.
line The Associated Press
Chronology of important events in Hawaii's quest for statehood
1849: Whig newspaper, the Northern Journal of Lowville, N.Y., advocates annexation and statehood for the Hawaiian Islands.
1854: King Kamehameha III secretly negotiates with President Franklin Pierce's administration for annexation and statehood, but king dies that year.
1893: White businessmen and lawyers overthrow Queen Lili'uokalani to create Republic and immediately seek annexation and statehood for the islands.
1898: Hawaii is annexed under a joint resolution of Congress and two years later is organized as a territory instead of a state.
1903: The Territorial Legislature begins an almost annual practice of passing resolutions supporting statehood.
1919: Hawaii's nonvoting delegate to Congress, Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalanianaole, introduces the first statehood bill, but it dies in committee.
1934: The Jones-Costigen Sugar Act treats Hawaii sugar exports as foreign and subject to a quota system, increasing calls in Hawaii for statehood.
1937: After hearings in Hawaii, joint congressional committee recommends plebiscite on statehood to determine wishes of territory's residents.
1940: Island residents vote 2-1 for statehood in plebiscite.
1941: Japanese attack Pearl Harbor, bringing martial law to Hawaii until 1944. Thousands of Japanese-Americans volunteer for military service, ending questions of their loyalty to the United States.
1946: In State of the Union message, President Truman calls for Hawaii statehood.
1947: House passes statehood bill 196-133, but Senate takes no action.
1950: In hopes of expediting statehood, Hawaii ratifies a state constitution.
1952: A combined Hawaii-Alaska statehood bill goes to Senate floor, but returns to committee and dies. Both Republican and Democratic parties endorse Hawaii's statehood.
1953: House passes statehood bill for a third time, but Senate again postpones action.
1954: Senate passes joint Hawaii-Alaska statehood bill, but House leadership refuses to accept it.
1957: Hawaii Delegate John Burns goes along with strategy of Senate Majority Leader Lyndon Johnson and House Speaker Sam Rayburn to schedule Alaska statehood bill in 1958 and Hawaii statehood bill in 1959.
1959: On March 11, Senate approves Hawaii statehood 76-15. On March 12, House concurs 329-89. On June 27, Hawaii voters ratify statehood 17-1. On Aug. 21, President Eisenhower signs statehood proclamation.
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