July 7th. The groundwork was laid 110 years ago today for one of the loveliest places on earth to eventually become a part of the U.S., as President William McKinley signed a resolution annexing Hawaii. The territory of Hawaii achieved statehood in 1959. For most Americans on the mainland, Hawaii is the ultimate vacation, with its lovely scenery and average annual temperature of some 78 degrees. Tourism, defense and raising sugar cane and pineapples are the mainstays of the economy. Almost 1.3 million people are lucky enough to call Hawaii home — half of them Asian, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander.