It is a common misconception that there was no resistance to American statehood by the people of Hawaii in 1959. While the U.S. government presented statehood as a long-awaited and widely celebrated event, many Hawaiians grieved this further blow to their Kingdom, which was overthrown in 1893.

A significant portion of the voting population consisted of Americans from the continent who were already registered voters, including military personnel and their families.

Following the Kūʻē Petitions, which documented the widespread opposition to the overthrow and annexation, numerous Hawaiians resisted statehood – both openly and in secret. They signed petitions, marched in the streets, and participated in other forms of protest, echoing the resistance to the overthrow itself.

Read more about the U.S. Occupation of the Hawaiian Kingdom.