Hawaii, Heritage, and righteousness

On this day in 1959, Hawaii becomes the 50th and most recent state to join the Union.

The state motto, adopted that same year, is “Ua Mau ke Ea o ka ʻĀina i ka Pono.”
It’s a Hawaiian phrase commonly translated to “The life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness.”

Here is the Preamble of The Constitution of the State of Hawaii:

“We, the people of Hawaii, grateful for Divine Guidance, and mindful of our Hawaiian heritage and uniqueness as an island State, dedicate our efforts to fulfill the philosophy decreed by the Hawaii State motto, “Ua mau ke ea o ka aina i ka pono.”

We reserve the right to control our destiny, to nurture the integrity of our people and culture, and to preserve the quality of life that we desire.

We reaffirm our belief in a government of the people, by the people and for the people, and with an understanding and compassionate heart toward all the peoples of the earth, do hereby ordain and establish this constitution for the State of Hawaii.”