Commems Collection Classic: 1928 Hawaiian Discovery (European) Sesquicentennial - Invitation/Funding

Shortly after Victor S. (Kaleoaloha) Houston of the Territory of Hawaii - a non-voting (Republican) Delegate to the House of Representatives ("House") introduced his commemorative coin bill in the House (December 1927), he introduced a House Joint Resolution "to invite the Government of Great Britain to participate in the celebration of the sesquicentennial of the discovery of the Hawaiian Islands, and to provide for the participation of the Government of the United States therein." (January 1928)

The Resolution originally included several "Whereas" statements that provided context for Houston's proposal. They read:

Whereas the Territory of Hawaii will celebrate, from August 15 to August 19, 1928, the Sesquicentennial of the Discovery of the Hawaiian Islands by Capt. James Cook; and

Whereas the Legislature of the Territory of Hawaii has appropriated the sum of $20,000 to meet the cost of conducting such ceremonies, and for the purpose of providing entertainment of delegates; and

Whereas in pursuance of a concurrent resolution of the Iegislature of the Territory of Hawaii, adopted by the senate thereof on April 14, 1927, and by the house of representatives thereof on April 16, 1927, the Governor of the Territory of Hawaii has requested the President "to extend a formal invitation to the Government of Great Britain, asking their participation by sending a man-of-war with delegates representing the Dominions most interested," and has asked that "the Federal Government send representatives for the occasion, with the presence of such units of the United States Fleet as may be spared"

The Resolution also included language authorizing the US President to formally invite the Government of Great Britain to participate in the Hawaiian anniversary celebration and appropriated up to $5,000 to cover expenses related to the participation of the United States Government.

The "Whereas" clauses were deleted from the bill by Unanimous Consent, but the other sections of the bill remained and were passed in the House without objection on February 20, 1928. The Resolution was passed in the Senate on February 29, 1928. (Yes, 1928 was a Leap Year,) The Resolution was signed into law by US President Calvin Coolidge on March 7, 1928.

An invitation was subsequently extended to Great Britain, it accepted and actively participated in the celebration. It sent the cruisers HMS Cornwall to represent the British Government, the HMAS Brisbane to represent the Australian Government and the HMS Dunedin to represent the New Zealand Government. The United States sent the battleship USS Pennsylvania.

1928 Hawaiian Discovery (European) Sesquicentennial Half Dollar



Check out 1928 Hawaiian Discovery (European) Sesquicentennial - Advanced Notice for a related story.


For more of my topics on commemorative coins and medals, including more stories about the Hawaiian half dollar, see: Commems Collection.