Status of the Hawaiian Islands in 1941

In 1941, the Hawaiian Islands were a U.S. Territory, not yet a state. Key milestones:

• August 12, 1898: Annexed by the United States via the Newlands Resolution.
• 1900: Hawaiian Organic Act established a territorial government with a presidentially appointed governor and legislature; granted U.S. citizenship to native-born residents.
• 1940: Organic Act amended to allow popular election of the governor and legislature.
• August 21, 1959: Hawaii admitted as the 50th U.S. state.

Thus, at the time of the Pearl Harbor attack (December 7, 1941), Hawaii was an organized, incorporated territory with a locally elected legislature but no voting representation in Congress.