[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 121 (Monday, August 22, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: August 22, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
       HAWAII SPEAKS ELOQUENTLY TO ALL OF HOPE, PEACE, AND UNITY

  Mr. INOUYE. Mr. President, on August 21, 1959, 35 years ago, the 
State of Hawaii became the 50th State of this great Nation. After 
nearly 40 years of congressional debates, investigations, hearings, and 
visitations, we achieved what so many of us in the Territory of Hawaii 
deeply desired.
  The State of Hawaii has come a long way since 1959 and I am very 
proud of the achievements of the people of Hawaii. I believe Hawaii has 
proven to be a credit to our Nation. The following brief report will 
give you some insight into the tremendous changes that have taken place 
in the 50th State over the past 35 years.
  Back in the fifties, times were very different. In those days, the 
concept of statehood for a group of tiny islands in the middle of the 
Pacific Ocean seemed far-fetched to many. However, the admission of 
Alaska removed the doubts of those who felt the United States should be 
one contiguous land mass.
  Statehood for Hawaii was not a sudden or impulsive idea. During the 
debate on statehood for Hawaii in the House of Representatives in March 
1959, there were no fewer than 88 bills pending that would have, if 
enacted, admitted Hawaii as a State. The people of Hawaii, through our 
territorial legislature, had petitioned the Congress for statehood on 
17 different occasions. That spirit of determination is still alive and 
growing in Hawaii, and our small but mighty State is leading the Nation 
in some important areas.
  We have heard much recently about ``the Health State.'' I am proud to 
say that our babies have the lowest infant mortality rate among the 50 
States. Our kupuna, or elderly, population is among the healthiest. In 
1959, approximately 41 percent of the population had comprehensive 
health insurance. Today, 96 percent of Hawaii's population is covered, 
and we enacted a new plan just 3 weeks ago designed to bring coverage 
up to 100 percent.
  Our territory of 600,000 American citizens in 1959 has almost doubled 
in 35 years. No territory, with the exception of Oklahoma, ever 
possessed a population as large as Hawaii's at the time it sought 
statehood in the Union. Consider these facts in 1959. Hawaii brought 
into the U.S. Treasury $166 million in taxes, putting Hawaii ahead of 
10 States as taxpayers. The per capita income of Hawaii was $1,821, 
ranking it 25th amongst the States, and the total income was more than 
in eight States. Current per capita income is more than 24 times that 
original amount and last year the people of Hawaii contributed $4.3 
billion to Federal coffers in the form of taxes.
  We have worked diligently to make our State education system the best 
it can be, and I believe we have done a good job. Our young people are 
choosing higher education at ever-increasing rates. Hawaii boasts 
several Blue Ribbon Schools. Thirty-five years ago, Hawaii's college 
student population was also one of the highest per capita in the 
Nation. Just after statehood, 10,000 were enrolled in higher education 
programs. Today over 60,000 are choosing that path. We have developed 
specialized programs for the most underserved group in our State, the 
native Hawaiians, and are better preparing our school-age children for 
learning with Head Start Programs. We know that it is not necessary for 
our children to travel to the mainland for a top-notch education. 
Admissions at the University of Hawaii on Oahu and in Hilo and at the 
community colleges on Oahu, Maui, Kauai, and Hawaii have gone up 
consistently, and we are expanding this excellent system every year to 
make it accessible to students on all islands.
  In 1959, sugar was king; 974,000 tons of sugar were produced in 
Hawaii. Times have changed, and the closure of two more sugar 
plantations will challenge Hawaii yet again. Despite this trend, the 
sugar industry is still a strong and important part of Hawaii 
agriculture.
  Hawaii is looking ahead to many new agribusiness ventures, including 
enhancing markets for tropical fruit, macadamia nuts, flowers, forest 
products, aquaculture, and tropical plants that can provide an 
important source of pharmaceutical and herbal products.
  My family came to Hawaii from Japan to work in the plantations, along 
with people from Portugal, China, Korea, and the Philippines. The 
plantations hold an enormous economic and cultural history for all of 
Hawaii's people. That will never be forgotten, but I look forward to 
the new opportunities that the present era will bring for Hawaii 
agriculture.
  Thirty-five years ago, when the Members of Congress debated the 
suitability of Hawaii as a State, there were questions of Americanism. 
Let me give you an example. During World War II, the loyalty and 
patriotism of Americans of Japanese ancestry living in Hawaii were 
called into question. When we finally received the call to duty in 
early 1943, 1,500 Hawaii volunteers were sought by the U.S. Army. In 
less than a week, 15,000 had volunteered. And Hawaii was not yet a 
State.
  We continue our strong commitment to military service. Just 2 years 
before statehood 59,000 military personnel were stationed in Hawaii, 
and an additional 25,000 were Federal employees. Hawaii is still home 
to several large defense installations, and we continue to demonstrate 
our support for our Nation's military. In addition, we are now involved 
in creating a state of the art medical facility for veterans, to better 
serve the people of Hawaii who generously put their lives on the line 
for us.
  It is clear that none of the concerns expressed in those years 
preceding statehood have become reality. Hawaii did not fall to 
communism. Hawaii's distance has not diminished the strength of the 
United States, but in fact has enhanced its military and economic 
power. Further, Hawaii remains one of the greatest examples of a 
multiethnic society living in relative peace.
  The people of Hawaii have been devoted for many decades to the ideals 
of America. That devotion has been written into the pages of world 
history on the battlefields of Europe, the Pacific Ocean, Korea, 
Vietnam, and Desert Storm and in the many civic, economic and cultural 
achievements Hawaii has shared with the rest of the United States.
  So, as we celebrate our 35 years of statehood, the people of Hawaii 
hope to inspire their fellow Americans who can experience in Hawaii the 
idealism, spirit, and opportunities envisioned by our Founding Fathers 
for all citizens. I believe that Hawaii speaks eloquently to all of 
hope, peace, and unity.

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