The 50th and most recent state of our country is Hawaii. It was admitted to the Union in 1959, after years of being a territory. But prior to that, it was an independent nation, one ruled by kings and queens. Today�s Family First Site takes a look at that monarchy and one queen in particular.
Called Hawaii�s Last Queen, this site is a companion to the PBS program The American Experience. Here you can find out about Queen Liliuokalani�s life and her reign as the last in a long line of royalty that led this island nation. There is an online teachers guide for educators� use, as well as a timeline to help put the events into historic perspective. You can also take a quiz to find out how much you know about the Hawaiian Islands.
Hawaii has always had a mystique about it, one of a peaceful, tranquil island society. It has been that and more. The Hawaiians had (and still have) their own alphabet and language. Their culture and society has developed since the islands were first united by King Kamehameha in 1810. To visitors of the islands, it is still much in evidence. One only need to step off of a plane or a ship to experience the atmosphere that makes Hawaii one of the true gems of the Pacific.
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/hawaii/