Hello everyone, today I have the last of two states to be featured in WW2 effects that wasn't actually a state, but a territory during the Second World War, Hawaii. I hope you learn something new, and enjoy reading about the last state to be admitted in the union, and the place where WW2 began for the U.S. Hawaii Pre-WW2 Hawaii was first discovered by the British explorer James Cook in 1778, 240 years ago this year. From that point on, Hawaii underwent the slow and occasionally inhumane, transition into a European colony. Britain would eventually abandon the islands however, and the U.S would obtain the islands. The U.S made a rather unfortunate first impression on the islands when they subsequently overthrew Queen Lili'uokalani, and annexed the territory in 1898. The Hawaiian island chain consists of 8 islands; Hawai'i (The big Island), Maui (The Valley isle), O'ahu (The gathering place), Kaua'i (The Garden isle), Moloka'i (The Friendly isle), Lana'i (The Pineapple isle), Ni'ihau (The Forbidden isle), and Kaho'olawe (The Target isle). Hawaii was prized not just for it's beautiful scenery and land, but it's agricultural capabilities as well. Hawaii's volcanic activity made Hawaii's soil some of the best in the world, and it allowed the easy growth of sugar cane, pineapples, coconuts, and tobacco. All of these valuable exports soon put Hawaii on the world stage, and the island's popularity as a vacation spot for the rich, and a business paradise made the island increasingly appealing. With plantations popping up everywhere across the islands, the population grew further, while the native population was slowly getting pushed out of their villages and being employed by ambitious plantation owners, being put into terrible working conditions. Hawaii gained attention from the U.S military as a prime spot to build a harbor, and make the island a fortress to protect the west coast of the Continental U.S. During and after WW1, the U.S military began to construct bases across the territory, and expand Pearl Harbor. By the 1940, there were 10 military installations across the island, and nearly 25% of the islands population in 1940 were military personnel. Hawaii had also become a haven for Asian immigrants, mostly of Japanese descent, this was a rather un-important fact about the island, until the 7th of December, 1941....... Hawaii WW2 At 7:48 AM, on a calm and Quiet Sunday morning, the Imperial Japanese Navy attacked the Pearl Harbor Naval station, and other military facilities, making the Second World War, worldwide. The result was tragic for the U.S, 19 ships were sunk or damaged, 347 aircraft were destroyed or damaged, 3,478 military personnel were killed or wounded, and tragically, 103 civilians were killed and wounded as well. While the attack ended thousands of lives, and destroyed and damaged the harbor, it failed to strike a fatal blow to the U.S Navy as the prized aircraft carriers weren't present. The attack outraged Americans, and on the 8th of December the U.S was officially at war with Japan, and on the 10th, Germany, and the 11th, Italy. The attack was personal for the residents of Hawaii, and the population immediately pointed fingers at the Japanese-American population. Nowhere in the U.S was animosity higher against Japanese-Americans, than in Hawaii, where ironically, nearly half of the territories population was Japanese-American. Immediately following the declaration of war, Hawaii fell under Martial law (The military is the law enforcement, and military laws established), and Japanese-Americans were immediately interned in the Honolulu internment camp. The first few months of the war for Hawaiians was filled with anxiety and fear, as there was a legitimate fear that Japan would invade the islands. When the Aleutians were invaded, fear reached it's peak in June of 42', and thousands of Hawaiian residents filled their gardens and homes with sandbags and fortifications to prepare for an invasion, an invasion that thankfully never came. Hawaii focused almost all of it's resources and personnel to fight in the Pacific and CBI theater's of war, the only real contribution Hawaii made to other theaters was through man power (442nd regiment fought in the Italian theater, and almost 75% of Hawaiian volunteers served in Europe). Hawaii became the main staging area for aircraft, ships, and men to transition to areas across the Pacific. It is estimated that 3,000 ships, 8,000 planes, and 3.4 million men stopped at the island at some point in their journey to the frontlines during the war. Hawaii also acted as an R&R hotspot, along with Pearl Harbor being the main Ship repairing station in the Pacific, repairing close too 300 ships in the war. Hawaii was also the location where the Japanese codes were broken, revealing that an attack on Midway was imminent, allowing for General Nimitz to sufficiently prepare for the engagement, where a crushing blow was dealt to the Japanese. During the war, 45,000 Hawaiians volunteered or were conscripted into the army, 689 gave their lives, 207 of which were Japanese-Americans, almost a 3rd of the state's casualties. Hawaii Post WW2 Martial law ended in 1946 for Hawaii, and the Honolulu internment camp was the last internment camp to be closed in April of 1946. It took many years for the rift between Japanese-Americans and other citizens to mend completely in Hawaii, but it is now realized the contribution the Japanese-Americans made during the war was incredible and as patriotic as can be. WW2 had brought a new wave of attention and popularity to the islands, and beginning in the late 1950's Hawaii's main income source began to be tourism (It remains one of only 3 state in the U.S to have tourism at the top of it's economy.) Hawaii finally became a state On August 21st, 1959, 59 years ago just about. Hawaii has since become the subject of constant media attention, whether it be Elvis Presley's old movies, Hawaii-Five-O, or Magnum P.I, increasing the state's notoriety across the world. Because the state is made up of islands, transportation and logistics are among the state's biggest problems, and it's a huge reason why Hawaii is the most expensive state to live in in the U.S. Hawaii also deals with the dangers of active volcanic activity and natural disasters such as Tsunami's and earthquakes. Not to mention Hawaii has the highest poverty and welfare rate in the U.S (besides D.C). The state however has been incredibly successful economically, and it's population has grown to 1.4 million people..........Cowabunga!!! Hawaii - Wikipedia World War II to Statehood (1941-1959) - Hawaii History - Overview of post-contact Hawai`i Attack on Pearl Harbor - Wikipedia James Cook, the first European to discover the state in 1778 Queen Lili'uokalani in 1903......after she had been removed from the throne by the U.S government The Hawaiian island chain Hawaiian sugarcane, the state's main export Honolulu the capitol of Hawaii in 1942 A Pan American add advertising a trip to Hawaii via Clipper......that would be awesome by the way!! The famous and horrifying explosion of the USS Shaw at Pearl Harbor Another famous photo of the attack from the Japanese perspective...the plume of water is a torpedo hitting the USS West Virginia Japanese-American volunteers from Hawaii......apologies for the poor quality The USS Yorktown (The first one) being repaired at Pearl Harbor after the battle of Coral Sea Elvis in Hawaii.............good stuff Tom Selleck in Hawaii...........also good stuff Honolulu Hawaii today The USS Arizona memorial today Hawaii in all it's beautiful glory......
