Travel

20 vintage photos of Hawaii from before it became a state

Erin McDowell
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hula dancer vintage photo hawaii
A hula dancer swings her ti leaf skirt in the traditional Hawaiian dance. AP
  • Hawaii became the last state to join the union on August 21, 1959.
  • Vintage photos of Hawaii show the island's thriving culture, traditions, and natural beauty.
  • Photos also show what it was like to visit Hawaii as a tourist before it became a state.

When President Dwight Eisenhower signed the Hawaii Admission Act on August 21, 1959, Hawaii became the last state to join the union.

Sixty-four years later, the state is known for its island cuisine, beautiful state parks, distinct cultural traditions, and thriving — though controversial — tourism industry.

These vintage photos will show you what the islands looked like before they became part of the United States.

Liz O'Connor and Melia Robinson contributed to an earlier version of this story.

January 1890: Locals mill outside 'Iolani Palace, the royal residence of the rulers of the Kingdom of Hawaii. The monarchy was overthrown by American sugar planters three years later.

The Royal Palace Honolulu in January 1890
The Royal Palace Honolulu in January 1890. John Lawson Stoddard/Apic/Getty Images

Early 1900s: Two local men in their raft rest by the beach at Waikiki Bay.

Circa 1900's, Two local men in their raft rest by the beach at Waikiki Bay, showing Diamond Head Getty Images
A photo of Waikiki Bay circa 1900s. Getty Images

1900: Native Hawaiians enjoy a picnic.

Native Hawaiians at a Picnic, circa 1900
Native Hawaiians at a picnic, circa 1900. Bettmann/Getty Images

1901: Vendors sell traditional lei.

hawaii lei vendors vintage photo
Women selling flowers and floral lei, wearing wreaths and hats decorated with flowers, Hawaii, early 20th century. Culture Club/Bridgeman/Getty Images

1917: A portrait of Lili'uokalani, the Queen of Hawaii, sitting in a chair in Honolulu before her death that year. She had been forced to abdicate in 1895.

A portrait of Lili'uokalani, the Queen of Hawaii in a chair and bathed in sunshine, Honolulu, Hawaii, 1917.
A portrait of Lili'uokalani, the Queen of Hawaii in 1917. Underwood Archives/Getty Images

1924: A native Hawaiian dancer performs while other women keep rhythm with gourds.

Getty Images A native Hawaiian dancer performing while other women keep rhythm with gourds, Hawaii, circa 1924
A native Hawaiian dancer performing while other women keep rhythm with gourds, Hawaii, circa 1924. Getty Images

1925: Diamond Head looms on the horizon at Waikiki Beach on Oahu.

Waikiki beach on Oahu, with Diamond Head in the background, Honolulu, Hawaii, circa 1925
Waikiki Beach on Oahu, circa 1925. Getty Images

1925: A surfer at Waikiki Beach stands on his head as he rides a wave into the shore.

A surfer at Waikiki Beach stands on his head as he rides a wave into the shore, Honolulu, Hawaii, circa 1925. Diamond Head is in the background
A surfer at Waikiki Beach stands on his head as he rides a wave into the shore, Honolulu, Hawaii, circa 1925. Underwood Archives/Getty Images

1930s: Female hula dancers find a groove.

hula dancers circa 1930s
Hula dancers performing in the 1930s. The Print Collector/Heritage Images/Getty Images

1930: Four Japanese tourists pose at the Halekulani Hotel on Waikiki Beach. Tourism started to flourish in Hawaii after Waikiki's first hotel was built at the turn of the century.

Four Japanese tourists pose at the Halekulani Hotel on Waikiki Beach with a native Hawaiian and his long surfboard, Honolulu, Hawaii, circa 1930.
Four Japanese tourists pose at the Halekulani Hotel on Waikiki Beach with a native Hawaiian and his long surfboard, Honolulu, Hawaii, circa 1930. Tai Sing Loo/Underwood Archives/Getty Images

1930: Tourists peer into the mouth of Halemaumau or "House of Everlasting Fire," the inner crater of Kilauea, the most active volcano in the world at the time.

1930 Tourists peer into mouth of Halemaumau 'House of Everlasting Fire' inner crater of Kilauea, slopes of Mauna Loa on central Hawaii Island, Kilauea is the most active volcano in the world
Tourists peer into the mouth of Halemaumau, the inner crater of Kilauea volcano in Hawaii. General Photographic Agency/Getty Images

January 1932: A group of Hawaiian girls smile for the camera.

January 1932: A group of Hawaiian girls sitting against a tropical background.
A group of Hawaiian girls sitting in January 1932. Hulton Archive/Getty Images

July 1934: The harbor at Honolulu is serene.

The harbor at Honolulu, Hawaii is pictured July 7, 1934, President Roosevelt's ship the cruiser Houston is expected to tie up at pier two, foreground, when the President arrives for his first visit to the Islands in late July
The harbor at Honolulu, Hawaii, is pictured on July 7, 1934. Getty Images

August 1934: Former first sons Franklin Roosevelt Jr., left, and John Roosevelt, right, pose with surfer Duke Kahanamoku in Waikiki, Hawaii.

Franklin Roosevelt Jr. John Roosevelt, Duke Kahanamoku, vintage photo hawaii
Two of the Roosevelts with Duke Kahanamoku in Waikiki, Hawaii, on August 3, 1934. AP

October 1936: Employees of PanAm Airways in Hawaii play golf amongst the albatrosses on a makeshift, full-size course on the beach at Midway Island.

PanAm Airways base men created full size golf course on beach Midway Island, Pacific Ocean, October 15, 1936 they play through local hazard, albatross, otherwise known as gooney birds
PanAm employees play golf on the beach at Midway Island in 1936. Getty Images

1936: People enjoying their lunch at tables on the beach in front of the Royal Hawaiian Hotel on Waikiki Beach, Honolulu.

People enjoying their lunch served at tables on the beach in front of the Royal Hawaiian Hotel on Waikiki Beach, Honolulu, Hawaii, circa 1936.
People enjoying their lunch served at tables on the beach in front of the Royal Hawaiian Hotel on Waikiki Beach, Honolulu, Hawaii, circa 1936. Underwood Archives/Getty Images

1940: Traffic hums at an intersection of King Street in Honolulu.

vintage photo hawaii honolulu
Traffic at an intersection of King Street, Honolulu, Hawaii, on November 7, 1940. AP

1945: Four years after the attack on nearby Pearl Harbor, and the same year World War II came to a close, an aerial view shows the port of Honolulu.

port of honolulu 1945
Honolulu pictured in 1945. Underwood Archives/Getty Images

1950: A migrant worker wearing a straw hat and gloves bends down to plant young pineapples in a field.

A migrant worker wearing a straw hat and gloves and bending down, planting young pineapples in a field
A migrant worker. Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images

1953: Hawaiian surfers Buzzy Trent, Woody Brown, and George Downing surf a 19-foot wave at Makaha, near Waianae, Oahu.

Hawaiian surf riders Buzzy Trent, Woody Brown and George Downing glide down advancing front of a 19 foot at Makaha, near Waianae, Oahu, December 3, 1953
Buzzy Trent, Woody Brown, and George Downing surfing in 1953. AP Images

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