On 50th anniversary, 50th US state divided on statehood

The state that gave America its first black president was hailed as a model of tolerance and diversity on the 50th anniversary of a bill signing that led to Hawaii becoming the 50th state.

The pen President Dwight D. Eisenhower used a half-century ago was on display at the state Capitol on Wednesday as past and present state leaders sang Hawaiian music, held hands and reflected on the meaning of joining the United States.

But as an Army band played patriotic songs, about two dozen Native Hawaiians chanted and marched in protest of statehood near the statue of Hawaii's last monarch, Queen Liliuokalani, wearing shirts that spelled out "A history of theft" and "Fake state".