# What was the general opinion when Hawaii/Alaska were admitted into the union? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 8, 2015, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-general-opinion-when-hawaii-alaska-were-admitted-into-the-union/733887 "2015-10-08T00:45:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2015, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-general-opinion-when-hawaii-alaska-were-admitted-into-the-union/733887/21 "2015-10-09T01:58:27Z")
Thinking of flag star arrangements, the Master speaks: > **[How will stars be arranged on the flag if the U.S. ever has 51 states?](https://www.straightdope.com/21341956/how-will-stars-be-arranged-on-the-flag-if-the-u-s-ever-has-51-states)** ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2015, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-general-opinion-when-hawaii-alaska-were-admitted-into-the-union/733887/22 "2015-10-09T02:05:41Z")
I wasn’t born yet. I do recall some discussion in my history classes that the lack of infrastructure was a concern in Alaska. Everyone knew it would cost a fortune to create highways, airports, sewers etc. for such an immense state. Even getting cities built is problematic. Politicians like [Ted Stevens](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ted_Stevens) spent decades fighting to get Federal funding for airports and roads in Alaska. The infrastructure is still nothing like other, older states. Their one Interstate is just pieced together from various highways. Many packed dirt or gravel. But it is an important start to opening up travel for businesses and manufacturing. It is a beautiful state. I always enjoy visiting in the summers. Not the winter. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2015, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-general-opinion-when-hawaii-alaska-were-admitted-into-the-union/733887/23 "2015-10-09T02:20:14Z")
I was alive but too young too recall anything about it. But I can tell you it apparently came as something of a surprise to Hawaiians that Alaska beat them into the Union. For years, Hawaiians were sure they would be the 49th state. There was even an old local record label out of Honolulu, specializing in traditional Hawaiian music, that called itself 49th State Records. But it all worked out for the best. Can you imagine a TV show called _Hawaii 4-9_? Or _Alaska 5-0_? > [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > AIUI, Hawaii had been waiting for statehood since right after Sanford Dole’s coup overthrowing Queen Liliuokalani, but was kept out due mainly to anti-Asian racism … Not just anti-Asian racism. I’ve seen political cartoons from the day portraying Hawaiians as blacks, because no one at the time quite knew what Hawaiians looked like. (Anyway, native Hawaiians are Polynesian, not Asian, but there was a substantial Asian population there by then.) ---
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2015, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-general-opinion-when-hawaii-alaska-were-admitted-into-the-union/733887/24 "2015-10-09T12:49:37Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > But it all worked out for the best. Can you imagine a TV show called _Hawaii 4-9_? Or _Alaska 5-0_? I was about to ask you if I was being wooshed until I looked it up. I honestly had no idea that the slang term for the police had its origins in Hawaii being the 50th state. Learn somethin’ new every day… ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2015, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-general-opinion-when-hawaii-alaska-were-admitted-into-the-union/733887/25 "2015-10-09T13:00:12Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > [7x7 staggered](http://www.gettysburgflag.com/images/49StarFlag.jpg) I can’t swear to the accuracy, but [here is a site with all the flags.](http://www.usflag.org/the.49.star.flag.html) ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2015, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-general-opinion-when-hawaii-alaska-were-admitted-into-the-union/733887/26 "2015-10-09T13:04:00Z")
> [@feppytweed](#): > > But 49 is a perfect square! And 51 is prime! Someone call Puerto Rico! ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2015, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-general-opinion-when-hawaii-alaska-were-admitted-into-the-union/733887/27 "2015-10-09T15:31:35Z")
Oh, we’ve prime location, prime weather (though AGW is futzing it up), prime rum, prime golfing, prime babes, but as mentioned it’s not a prime number. I’d take it anyway. As if…(_) The period 1912-59 had been at the time the longest ever w/o a new state, and the first time ever whole decades passed w/o one new state; only surpassed later by the current period since 1959. (I’ve mentioned before that the 50-star flag is now the longest-lasting tesselation, having passed the 48-star rectangle of the World Wars in 2007) (_ small consolation is that DC is almost as much of a long shot to get in) ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2015, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-general-opinion-when-hawaii-alaska-were-admitted-into-the-union/733887/28 "2015-10-09T15:40:07Z")
> [@Asimovian](#): > > I was about to ask you if I was being wooshed until I looked it up. I honestly had no idea that the slang term for the police had its origins in Hawaii being the 50th state. > > Learn somethin’ new every day… You knew about the TV show, didn’t you? Didn’t they remake it recently? ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2015, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-general-opinion-when-hawaii-alaska-were-admitted-into-the-union/733887/29 "2015-10-09T15:41:45Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > How were the stars arranged on the short-lived 49-star flag - just a 7x7 square? Or did we mostly just not bother? Look it up. It’s surprisingly ugly. The 50-star arrangement is a fortunate improvement to say the least. ---
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2015, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-general-opinion-when-hawaii-alaska-were-admitted-into-the-union/733887/30 "2015-10-09T16:15:03Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > You knew about the TV show, didn’t you? Didn’t they remake it recently? I knew about the TV show during it’s original run, but I never really watched it. I guess I had always assumed (not a lot of deep thought involved, here) that the show was called Hawaii Five-0 because “Five-0” was _already_ a term for the police. I didn’t know the show created the term, and never made any connection with it being the 50th state. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2015, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-general-opinion-when-hawaii-alaska-were-admitted-into-the-union/733887/31 "2015-10-09T16:20:46Z")
> [@Asimovian](#): > > I knew about the TV show during it’s original run, but I never really watched it. I guess I had always assumed (not a lot of deep thought involved, here) that the show was called Hawaii Five-0 because “Five-0” was _already_ a term for the police. I didn’t know the show created the term, and never made any connection with it being the 50th state. Side note: The elite 5-0 force on the show was based on an actual squad that had existed in the 1940s. I don’t know what they were called though. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2015, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-general-opinion-when-hawaii-alaska-were-admitted-into-the-union/733887/32 "2015-10-09T16:43:42Z")
> [@Asimovian](#): > > I knew about the TV show during it’s original run, but I never really watched it. I guess I had always assumed (not a lot of deep thought involved, here) that the show was called Hawaii Five-0 because “Five-0” was _already_ a term for the police. I didn’t know the show created the term, and never made any connection with it being the 50th state. I always thought it was because the police drove 5 liter Mustangs, though of course in hindsight it’s obvious that the show predated those (at least in police use). :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2015, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-general-opinion-when-hawaii-alaska-were-admitted-into-the-union/733887/33 "2015-10-09T16:44:25Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > I wasn’t born yet. I do recall some discussion in my history classes that the lack of infrastructure was a concern in Alaska. Everyone knew it would cost a fortune to create highways, airports, sewers etc. for such an immense state. Even getting cities built is problematic. Politicians like [Ted Stevens](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ted_Stevens) spent decades fighting to get Federal funding for airports and roads in Alaska. The infrastructure is still nothing like other, older states. Their one Interstate is just pieced together from various highways. Many packed dirt or gravel. But it is an important start to opening up travel for businesses and manufacturing. > > It is a beautiful state. I always enjoy visiting in the summers. Not the winter. There are actually four “interstate” highways in Alaska, for some reason. Infrastructure is still an issue there, as the federal government still treats Alaska as some sort of feudal state in many respects. No other state has the oversight and scrutiny that Alaska has, or has to jump through as many hoops in order to build something as simple as a road. It’s not surprising to me that the politics there lean hard right. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2015, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-general-opinion-when-hawaii-alaska-were-admitted-into-the-union/733887/34 "2015-10-09T16:56:22Z")
There are interstates in the contiguous US that don’t go to any other states, too. I-4 runs from Tampa Bay to Daytona, for example. It’s an “interstate highway system” rather than a system of “interstate highways” - as in, interstate modifies “system” rather than highway. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2015, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-general-opinion-when-hawaii-alaska-were-admitted-into-the-union/733887/35 "2015-10-09T17:04:11Z")
Hawaii has interstates too, and while they’re handy for general use by the public, my understanding is they all lead to military bases and are meant to be used to facilitate military movements in the event of a crisis. I was told the reason they’re interstates is because that designation was needed in order to receive federal funding. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2015, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-general-opinion-when-hawaii-alaska-were-admitted-into-the-union/733887/36 "2015-10-09T17:07:14Z")
> [@OldGuy](#): > > More like 6 months actually. Jan 3 and Aug 21 both in 1959. It probably felt like a year because stars are added to the flag on July 4th so Alaska got its in 1959 and Hawaii got its in 1960. I was 10-11 at the time. About the only thing I recall is my parents wouldn’t buy a new flag for the 4th in 1959 as they said it would be a waste because we’d need a new one the next year. Based on this, I’d say it was probably obvious that Hawaii was going to be admitted by at least late June 1959. > > I never heard a racial issue at all, but then I’d not likely have done so from my parents. For some bizarre reason I don’t even remember, I looked up the California state laws on flying the US flag. The only flag that had a specific exemption to being required for government offices and schools as the “current flag” was the 49 star flag from 1959 to 1960. ---
**Author:** ![Philliam](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/philliam/32/3011_2.png) [@Philliam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philliam)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2015, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-general-opinion-when-hawaii-alaska-were-admitted-into-the-union/733887/37 "2015-10-09T17:23:17Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > I was alive but too young too recall anything about it. But I can tell you it apparently came as something of a surprise to Hawaiians that Alaska beat them into the Union. For years, Hawaiians were sure they would be the 49th state. There was even an old local record label out of Honolulu, specializing in traditional Hawaiian music, that called itself 49th State Records. > > But it all worked out for the best. Can you imagine a TV show called _Hawaii 4-9_? Or _Alaska 5-0_? > > Not just anti-Asian racism. I’ve seen political cartoons from the day portraying Hawaiians as blacks, because no one at the time quite knew what Hawaiians looked like. (Anyway, native Hawaiians are Polynesian, not Asian, but there was a substantial Asian population there by then.) When I was a kid I had a nice stack of ‘49th State’ records (all old varnish 78’s) as well as some Japanese Teichiku recordings of the same vintage. Wish I still had them (my folks probably tossed them when I was in the Navy, along with my 1930’s Erector set in its wooden crate). :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2015, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-general-opinion-when-hawaii-alaska-were-admitted-into-the-union/733887/38 "2015-10-09T17:51:35Z")
> [@Asimovian](#): > > I knew about the TV show during it’s original run, but I never really watched it. I guess I had always assumed (not a lot of deep thought involved, here) that the show was called Hawaii Five-0 because “Five-0” was _already_ a term for the police. I didn’t know the show created the term, and never made any connection with it being the 50th state. Similar here. I watched the original show and never managed to “get” that 5-0 was for the fiftieth state. To be fair, I was pretty young when it started, but still… At least it wasn’t named for McGarrett’s football jersey number. Useless fun fact: The original show is “5-O”, the letter, and the new show is “5-0” the number, which sort of renders the “50” meaning incorrect. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2015, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-general-opinion-when-hawaii-alaska-were-admitted-into-the-union/733887/39 "2015-10-09T17:53:18Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > Hawaii took an extra year partly because the white supremacists in Congress didn’t like the idea that they were multiracial. cite? ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2015, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-general-opinion-when-hawaii-alaska-were-admitted-into-the-union/733887/40 "2015-10-09T18:12:36Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > For some bizarre reason I don’t even remember, I looked up the California state laws on flying the US flag. The only flag that had a specific exemption to being required for government offices and schools as the “current flag” was the 49 star flag from 1959 to 1960. So even the government didn’t buy the things. Did _anybody_? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-general-opinion-when-hawaii-alaska-were-admitted-into-the-union/733887.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-general-opinion-when-hawaii-alaska-were-admitted-into-the-union/733887.md?page=3)