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.

Organic Act

Congress finally agreed to grant Hawai‘i a popularly elected government of its own and McKinley signed a law, An Act to Provide a Government for the Territory of Hawai‘i, also known as the Hawaiian Organic Act of 1900.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Organic Act established the Office of the Territorial Governor, an office appointed by the sitting American president and was usually from his own political party. The territorial governor served at the pleasure of the president and could be replaced at any time.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Territorial Governors

• Sanford B. Dole, Republican, (1900-1903)
• George R. Carter, Republican, (1903-1907)
• Walter F. Frear, Republican, (1907-1913)
• Lucius E. Pinkham, Democrat, (1913-1918)
• Charles J. McCarthy, Democrat, (1918-1921)
• Wallace R. Farrington, Republican, (1921-1929)
• Lawrence M. Judd, Republican, (1929-1934)
• Joseph B. Poindexter, Democrat, (1934-1942)
• Ingram M. Stainback, Democrat, (1942-1951)
• Oren E. Long, Democrat, (1951-1953)
• Samuel Wilder King, Republican, (1953-1957)
• William F. Quinn, Republican (1957-1959)

The Organic Act created the territorial legislature, charged with proposing legislation and passing laws, and a supreme court led by a chief justice, charged with interpreting laws. A bicameral body, the legislature was comprised of the House of Representatives and Senate. Members of the legislature were elected by popular vote. Congressional representation was limited to a single non-voting delegate.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Congressional Delegates

• Baldwin, Henry Alexander (1871-1946)
• Burns, John Anthony (1909-1975)
• Farrington, Joseph Rider (1897-1954)
• Farrington, Mary Elizabeth Pruett (1898-1984)
• Houston, Victor Stewart Kaleoaloha (1876-1959)
• Jarrett, William Paul (1877-1929)
• Kalanianaole, Jonah Kuhio (1871-1922)
• King, Samuel Wilder (1886-1959)
• McCandless, Lincoln Loy (1859-1940)
• Wilcox, Robert William (1855-1903)