Hawaii, Birthplace of Obama, Celebrates 50 Years of Statehood Special

While mainlanders consider Hawaii a somewhat foreign place, locals know the difference. Hawaii joined the union with joy in 1959. Residents declare their pride in being US citizens as well as having differences that make life special in the islands.

It isn’t just the weather in Hawaii, Jerry Burris, former editorial page editor of the Honolulu Advertiser, points out in his blog, that makes Hawaii special. This reporter lived 28 years on Oahu, a place with special memories. So a read of Burris, whom I met many years ago, makes a great day for me. Burris has been a front and center part of Hawaii’s newspaper world for many years. Although retired right now, he continues to blog and report his impressions of island life and culture. Burris declares how the Advertiser, who was his journalism family, highlighted 50 people who had especially impacted Hawaii. Still there are many other ordinary citizens he believes who should be saluted as making Hawaii special. That’s because there are many things about Hawaii that are unique. For me one of the unique experiences involved music, playing and singing with Hawaiians who are friendly and adept with guitars. Politics in Hawaii is different than mainland practice, most people who live there or who have lived there agree. While a mainland politician will send out scurrilous literature about an opponent, most of the political races in Hawaii reveal kindred spirits who love each other, with their supporters on either side of a roadway facing the opposition with their signs. After the end of the day, the candidates might meet for a cool one in some special place. That is what reveals the ordinary citizens doing ordinary things that make Hawaii extraordinary in the opinion of just about everyone who lives there. Burris points that out.

C. Ho.

Carol Forsloff (known as Carol Marie in the 70's in entertainment) is shown here with Freddy Gayagas singing and playing guitar at then-Governor Ariyoshi's banquet in honor of visiting financial analysts in late 1979.

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It was the Linda Lingle race for Governor I remember most. It took two campaigns for her to get elected. As a Republican in Hawaii, I worked grassroots on her campaign. Supporters of Lingle were enthusiastic because Lingle is a woman, Jewish and haole (Caucasian from the mainland), all unique characteristics for Governor of Hawaii. This year Representative Neil Ambercrombie and Mayor Mufi Hannemann are running for the state’s top spot after Lingle completes her turn as Governor. There’s a wrangle there, Burris reports, over the use of funds; but most residents agree it’s the same local boy stuff that goes on in Hawaii, making politics part of the uniqueness of the 50th State.

Abe Weatherspoon (for author)

Author is sitting next to Mufi Hannemann now Mayor of Honolulu, running for Governor of Hawaii, who ran for politics for more than 20 years

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Zogby did an international poll of island residents to get their input about statehood. What the Honolulu Advertiser reported is 2 out of 3 residents consider statehood a plus. This contrasts with the 94 percent approval when Hawaii became a state in 1959. This is in spite of Hawaii sovereignty issues. Only 46 percent of the respondents were born in Hawaii. The Honolulu Star-Bulletin, Hawaii’s other paper, has been following events and gives the history of the islands regarding statehood and those things that happened subsequent to it. The paper observes how Hawaii statehood was introduced in Congress by Prince Kuhio in 1919. The state, however, was considered to be too far away to be part of the United States. It wasn’t until 40 years later that the bill was passed, making Hawaii the 49th state of the union.

C. Ho

Author stands near the top of Tantalus in Makiki, an area of Honolulu, the week she moved to Hawaii in 1977 just 18 years after statehood began.

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How is Hawaii doing during this economic downturn? Real estate agent in Honolulu Tiffany Dubose speaks of short sales and real estate prices that have fallen. But for the most part, Dubose declares, "Hawaii hasn't lost as much as lots of places. It still is a great place to live and a great place to invest." She adds that prices for single-family homes have fallen at least $100,00, and for condos the price drop is between $50,000 to $75,000. When asked about political and social differences and how those might be since the election of Barack Obama, Dubose maintains island relationships remain tranquil and harmonious. "It is," Dubose says, "a very special place" Hawaii, birthplace of Barack Obama, remains at a crossroads during the economic downturn and after half a century of growth, according to both Hawaii newspapers. It remains, however, America’s paradise, the place where people hope to visit and fall in love with when they do, according to Go Visit Hawaii.

Carol Forsloff

This picture of Honolulu at the water's edge shows the beauty of the city, against the clear sky and water, one of the first glimpses people have of the capitol city of Hawaii, Honolulu

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I know what means to love Hawaii as I write this story to share a moment of memories about that special place where I lived more than half the time Hawaii has been a state, now as the islands celebrates 50 years of statehood. Much of my own life story, not quite half in fact, is mingled with memories of Hawaii. Included here are a few pictures from the album of that 28-year journey. Most especially is this one, which mirrors a line from a famous song, "Where I live there are rainbows, and life in the laughter of morning, and birds filled with song."

Carol Forsloff

This is a view of a rainbow across the skies in Makaha where the author lived 13 of the 28 years she spent in Hawaii. This is the higher ground for people who live on the Leeward or West Coast of Oahu.

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So is Hawaii at its 50th year as a state.