The Hawaii Admission Act is a law that enabled the state of Hawaii to join the United States as the 50th state. Signed on March 18, 1959, it followed a referendum in which the majority of Hawaiian residents voted in favor of statehood. The act outlined the terms and conditions for Hawaii's admission, including the establishment of a state constitution. The act also addressed issues such as land ownership and the rights of native Hawaiians. It ensured that the new state would retain control over its public lands, while also recognizing the unique cultural heritage of the Hawaiian Islands and its people.