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What Hawaii looked like in the 1950s Through These Fascinating Photos

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After the Pearl Harbor attack, Hawaii underwent strict Martial law, which lasted until the end of World War II. Everyone in Hawaii lived under the control of the US military. They set working hours and wages, regulated bars and restaurants, and set curfews dictating what time lights had to go out. Martial law violated the fundamental rights of the citizens. Critics were regarded as unpatriotic, and the military censored the press, so there could be no public debate. When the war ended, the people of Hawaii stood together and rebuilt Oahu’s island and launched many campaigns to attract visitors to the island. Hawaii’s economy was profoundly affected by the war, but because of the unity of Hawaiian citizens, Hawaii has recovered beautifully, and it thrives economically.

In 1954, there were a series of nonviolent protests, strikes, and acts of civil disobedience across the industry. Hawaii’s Republican Party was ousted from the legislature in the territorial elections of 1954 and was replaced by the Democratic Party of Hawaii. The Democratic Party lobbied for statehood and held the governorship from 1962 to 2002.

On March 18, 1959, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed the Hawaii Admission Act, granting Hawaiian statehood. Hawaii became the 50th state on August 21, 1959, following a popular referendum in which over 93% voted in favor of statehood.

Here are some fascinating historical photos that show what Hawaii looked like in the 1950s.

#1 King Street in downtown Honolulu with the wall / fence of Iolani Palace on the left

King Street in downtown Honolulu with the wall / fence of Iolani Palace on the left

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#3 A couple repairing a net strung between two palm trees in a remote part of Hawaii, 1950

A couple repairing a net strung between two palm trees in a remote part of Hawaii, 1950

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#4 Crowds gather on the Hawaiian island of Oahu to watch the winning boat of a gruelling 36 mile canoe race arrive at the finish, 1950

Crowds gather on the Hawaiian island of Oahu to watch the winning boat of a gruelling 36 mile canoe race arrive at the finish, 1950

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#5 At the Royal Hawaiian Hotel on Waikiki Beach, Honolulu, Hawaii. Outrigger Canoe Club (center left); Moana Hotel (on the right)

At the Royal Hawaiian Hotel on Waikiki Beach, Honolulu, Hawaii. Outrigger Canoe Club (center left); Moana Hotel (on the right)

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#6 Hawaiian woman selling lei with Aloha Tower in the background, Honolulu Harbor, Oahu, Hawaii

Hawaiian woman selling lei with Aloha Tower in the background, Honolulu Harbor, Oahu, Hawaii

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#18 Outrigger Waikiki on the Beach, a bar and hotel on Waikiki Beach, Honolulu, Hawaii, 1950s

Outrigger Waikiki on the Beach, a bar and hotel on Waikiki Beach, Honolulu, Hawaii, 1950s

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#19 Pineapple Canning Factory, Honolulu, Hawaii, 1950s

Pineapple Canning Factory, Honolulu, Hawaii, 1950s

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#20 A man pushes a woman out to sea on a surf board, Waikiki Beach, Honolulu, Hawaii, 1955

A man pushes a woman out to sea on a surf board, Waikiki Beach, Honolulu, Hawaii, 1955

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#22 Visitors to Hawaii join in the ‘Hukilau’, 1955

Visitors to Hawaii join in the 'Hukilau', 1955

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#23 The Samoan sword is a formidable weapon of war, but it can also be useful in peacetime, 1955

The Samoan sword is a formidable weapon of war, but it can also be useful in peacetime, 1955

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#24 Women weaving rushes in kaiolani park in Waikiki, Hawaii, 1955

Women weaving rushes in kaiolani park in Waikiki, Hawaii, 1955

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#25 Men in straw hats picking pineapples from field and loading them on conveyor belt piece of farming equipment, 1950.

Men in straw hats picking pineapples from field and loading them on conveyor belt piece of farming equipment, 1950.

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#27 King Kamehameha statue in a peaceful square surrounding by palm trees, Honolulu, Hawaii, 1950.

King Kamehameha statue in a peaceful square surrounding by palm trees, Honolulu, Hawaii, 1950.

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#28 Hawaii Calls” radio show being performed on stage at the Banyan Court of the Moana Hotel, Waikiki, Honolulu, Hawaii

Hawaii Calls" radio show being performed on stage at the Banyan Court of the Moana Hotel, Waikiki, Honolulu, Hawaii

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#30 Dillingham Transportation Building on Bishop Street (left), downtown Honolulu, Hawaii

Dillingham Transportation Building on Bishop Street (left), downtown Honolulu, Hawaii

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#31 Fort Ruger on the slopes of Diamond Head (foreground); Leahi Hospital in right distance

Fort Ruger on the slopes of Diamond Head (foreground); Leahi Hospital in right distance

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#45 Koolau Mountains seen across Kaneohe Bay from the Kaneohe Marine Corps Air Station on Mokapu Peninsula, Oahu, Hawaii

Koolau Mountains seen across Kaneohe Bay from the Kaneohe Marine Corps Air Station on Mokapu Peninsula, Oahu, Hawaii

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#62 World War II memorial at Punchbowl Street (background) and King Street, Honolulu, Hawaii

World War II memorial at Punchbowl Street (background) and King Street, Honolulu, Hawaii

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#92 Black-sand beach, made by waves battering volcanic rock, on the Big Island, Hawaii, 1959

Black-sand beach, made by waves battering volcanic rock, on the Big Island, Hawaii, 1959

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#93 Scene at Dole’s 15,000-acre Wahiawa plantation near Honolulu, 1959

Scene at Dole's 15,000-acre Wahiawa plantation near Honolulu, 1959

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#94 Young Catholics at St. Catherine’s Church on Kauai, 1959

Young Catholics at St. Catherine's Church on Kauai, 1959

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#97 Drum majorette leads band at Honolulu football game, 1959

Drum majorette leads band at Honolulu football game, 1959

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#99 Mamala paddle dance which was performed in honor of Lono

Mamala paddle dance which was performed in honor of Lono

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#111 A scenic view of a tributary of the River Wailua on Kauai, the oldest of the main Hawaiian Islands, 1950s

A scenic view of a tributary of the River Wailua on Kauai, the oldest of the main Hawaiian Islands, 1950s

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#114 Honolulu Docks, with a view of Aloha Tower, Honolulu, Hawaii, 1950s

Honolulu Docks, with a view of Aloha Tower, Honolulu, Hawaii, 1950s

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#116 Women in traditional native Hawaiian clothing, Kauai, Hawaii, 1950s

Women in traditional native Hawaiian clothing, Kauai, Hawaii, 1950s

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#117 US marines outside Club Hubba Hubba on Hotel Street, Honolulu, 1955

US marines outside Club Hubba Hubba on Hotel Street, Honolulu, 1955

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#118 Bert and Ellie Lang, a young American couple on their honeymoon in Hawaii try a spot of hula dancing in their hotel bedroom, 1955

Bert and Ellie Lang, a young American couple on their honeymoon in Hawaii try a spot of hula dancing in their hotel bedroom, 1955

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#120 The white sands and warm Pacific waters of a Hawaiian beach, 1955

The white sands and warm Pacific waters of a Hawaiian beach, 1955

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#121 A crowd of camera wielding tourists watching a hula show in Honolulu, Hawaii, 1955

A crowd of camera wielding tourists watching a hula show in Honolulu, Hawaii, 1955

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#122 Mary Ray Fearon and Oralee Kiewit Posing with Their Surfboards, 1955

Mary Ray Fearon and Oralee Kiewit Posing with Their Surfboards, 1955

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#123 Scenic view of an Hawaiian beach with palm trees overhanging the sea,Hawaii, 1950s

Scenic view of an Hawaiian beach with palm trees overhanging the sea,Hawaii, 1950s

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#124 American actress Mamie Van Doren in Hawaii, 1954

American actress Mamie Van Doren in Hawaii, 1954

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#125 Crown Prince Akihito Makes Trip To Attend Queen Elizabeth II Coronation, 1953

Crown Prince Akihito Makes Trip To Attend Queen Elizabeth II Coronation, 1953

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#126 Contestants in the Mrs America 1953 pageant pose on a Mercury ‘Mrs America’, 1953

Contestants in the Mrs America 1953 pageant pose on a Mercury 'Mrs America', 1953

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#128 An array of feather-topped staffs on display at the Bishop Museum in Honolulu, Hawaii, 1953

An array of feather-topped staffs on display at the Bishop Museum in Honolulu, Hawaii, 1953

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#129 A tourist wearing the traditional Hawaiian shirt kneels with his camera at the ready, awaiting the arrival of the Hula dancers on Honolulu’s Waikiki Beach, in Hawaii, 1953

A tourist wearing the traditional Hawaiian shirt kneels with his camera at the ready, awaiting the arrival of the Hula dancers on Honolulu's Waikiki Beach, in Hawaii, 1953

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#130 A group of tourists, poised with cameras at the ready for the arrival of the Hula dancers on Honolulu’s Waikiki Beach, in Hawaii, 1953

A group of tourists, poised with cameras at the ready for the arrival of the Hula dancers on Honolulu's Waikiki Beach, in Hawaii, 1953

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#131 Two tourists in matching Hawaiian shirts poise with their cameras at the ready, awaiting the arrival of the Hula dancers on Honolulu’s Waikiki Beach, in Hawaii, 1953

Two tourists in matching Hawaiian shirts poise with their cameras at the ready, awaiting the arrival of the Hula dancers on Honolulu's Waikiki Beach, in Hawaii, 1953

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#132 Honolulu Mansion with a huge garden in Honolulu, 1950s

Honolulu Mansion with a huge garden in Honolulu, 1950s

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#134 Cars parked among palm trees, Honolulu, Hawaii, 1952

Cars parked among palm trees, Honolulu, Hawaii, 1952

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#135 Outside Honolulu International Airport, Honolulu, Hawaii, 1951.

Outside Honolulu International Airport, Honolulu, Hawaii, 1951.

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#139 Elevated view of the Royal Hawaiian Hotel on Waikiki Beach, Honolulu, Hawaii, 1950.

Elevated view of the Royal Hawaiian Hotel on Waikiki Beach, Honolulu, Hawaii, 1950.

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#140 Traditional hula dancing by native Hawaiians in Honolulu, Hawaii, 1950s

Traditional hula dancing by native Hawaiians in Honolulu, Hawaii, 1950s

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#141 A warning notice near the rim of Halemaumau, or ‘House of Evelasting Fire’, the inner crater of Kilauea, the world’s most active volcanic crater, in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, 1950

A warning notice near the rim of Halemaumau, or 'House of Evelasting Fire', the inner crater of Kilauea, the world's most active volcanic crater, in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, 1950

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#142 Surfers riding the waves off the coast of Hawaii, 1950

Surfers riding the waves off the coast of Hawaii, 1950

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#143 Rows of Hawaiian solldier’s uniforms hung out to dry on an army camp outside Honolulu, 1950

Rows of Hawaiian solldier's uniforms hung out to dry on an army camp outside Honolulu, 1950

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#144 GuardsHawaiian Territorial Guards during a weapons training seminar, 1950

GuardsHawaiian Territorial Guards during a weapons training seminar, 1950

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#145 American comedian Lenny Bruce performs on stage with exotic dancer Windee Gayle and a saxophonist at the Orchid Room, Waikiki, 1950s.

American comedian Lenny Bruce performs on stage with exotic dancer Windee Gayle and a saxophonist at the Orchid Room, Waikiki, 1950s.

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#146 A pretty young Hawaiian woman poses in her hula skirt and dance apparel, Hawaii, 1950.

A pretty young Hawaiian woman poses in her hula skirt and dance apparel, Hawaii, 1950.

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Written by Aung Budhh

Husband + Father + librarian + Poet + Traveler + Proud Buddhist. I love you with the breath, the smiles and the tears of all my life.

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