Territory of Hawaii

The Territory of Hawai‘i, abbreviated officially as T.H., was established on 7 July, 1898 and dissolved on 21 August, 1959 when Hawai‘i became a state. The U.S. Congress passed the Newlands Resolution which annexed the former Kingdom of Hawai‘i and later Republic of Hawai‘i to the United States. Hawai‘i's territorial history includes a period from 1941 to 1944 when the islands were placed under martial law. Civilian government was dissolved and a military governor was appointed.

Martial law

From 1941 to 1944, Territorial Governors Joseph B. Pointdexter and Ingram M. Stainback stripped themselves of their administrative powers by declaring Martial Law. With the territorial constitution suspended, the legislature and supreme court were also dissolved indefinitely. Military law under the Uniform Code of Military Justice was enforced on all residents of Hawai‘i. A military governor from the Judge Advocate General's Corps assumed control of Hawai‘i and governed from ‘Iolani Palace, which was quickly barricaded and fitted with trenches.

Related Topics:
1941 - 1944 - Uniform Code of Military Justice - Judge Advocate General's Corps - ‘Iolani Palace

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Under Martial Law, every facet of Hawaiian life was under the control of the military governor. His government fingerprinted all residents over the age of six, imposed blackouts and curfews, rationed food and gasoline, censored the news and media, censored all mail, prohibited alcohol, assigned business hours, and administered traffic and special garbage collection. The military governor's laws were called General Orders. Violations meant punishment without appeal by military tribunals.

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List of Military Governors:

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• Maj. Gen. Thomas H. Greene, U.S. Army Judge Advocate General's Corps, (1941-1944)