David Paulley (B. 1931) "25th anniversary of Hawaiian State Hood" Signed lower right, also titled, signed and dated verso. Oil on Canvas. Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation. This painting was originally published on the Fleetwood First Day Cover for the U.S. 20c Hawaii Statehood stamp issued March 12, 1984. August 21, 1959 is a day that will live forever in America's history .. for on that day the territory of Hawaii became the fiftieth state of the Union. Prior to Hawaii's attaining statehood, travelers from all over the world had already made Hawaii famous for its lovely beaches and beautiful weather -- Mark Twain called it "the loveliest fleet of islands that lies anchored in any ocean." Not surprisingly, as American visitors came to know their new American neighbors, they also found that the Hawaiian people were kind and happy and had outstanding character. They also found that the Hawaiian culture includes diverse backgrounds, and there are seven ethnic groups in Hawaii -- people of Japanese, Chinese, Filipino, Korean, Caucasian, and Polynesian ancestry, as well as a mixture called Cosmopolitan. The geography of the Aloha State is also as distinctive as its inhabitants. The islands of this balmy paradise rise out of the warm waters of the Pacific and are topped by peaks which sometimes spew forth a fiery breath of lava. Looking down from the volcanic peaks, one may see the velvet green stretches of sugarcane and pineapple crops. Modern Hawaii has not lost sight of her fascinating history. A large bronze statue of King Kamehameha I, the ruler who united many independent tribal kingdoms under his rule, stands tall in Honolulu's Civic Center. Image Size: 16.5 x 14.25 in. Overall Size: 23.75 x 19.75 in. Unframed. (B08525)