Chester Kahapea
Encyclopedia
Chester Frank Kahapea was an American
soil scientist, technician
and former paperboy
. Kahapea became a symbol of the Hawaiian statehood
after an iconic photo of him appeared in newspapers around the United States
holding a special edition copy of the Honolulu Star-Bulletin
headlined "Statehood." Kahapea became known in state history as "the face of Hawaii statehood."
The photo of Kahapea was taken on March 12, 1959, shortly after U.S. President Dwight Eisenhower signed the Hawaii Admission Act
, admitting Hawaii as the 50th U.S. state
. Kahapea was a twelve-year old paperboy in Honolulu at the time. People had taken to the streets to celebrate Hawaii's admission to the U.S. and Kahapea reportedly could not keep up with the demand for the special edition Honolulu Star-Bulletin
statehood newspapers. Kahapea was selected as the newsboy to hand the first statehood newspaper to then Honolulu Mayor Neal Blaisdell
, who was late for the photographer's appointment. With the Mayor late, the reporter began talking to Kahapea, which led to the now famous photograph. In 2009, on the fiftieth anniversary of statehood, Kahapea recalled the instance when an Associated Press
reporter took the now iconic photograph, "He just asked me how I normally sold my papers. So, I held up my hand with the paper - and, just a shot of statehood - and that was it!" The photo of Kahapea holding a "Statehood" special edition appeared in newspapers and publications worldwide, including the New York Times. The photograph made Kahapea a symbol of Hawaii's achievement of statehood.
Kahapea become a soil technician
for Construction Engineering Labs, testing the quality and composition of soil
, cement
and asphalt
. where he worked for thirty-one years before retiring.
In 2008, Kahapea was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's disease, but acted as a spokesman
and activist for those suffering from the disease in Hawaii. He worked to spread awareness of the disease in the state. Kahapea died of complications from Lou Gehrig's disease at Kuakini Medical Center in Honolulu on March 4, 2011, at the age of 65. He was a longtime resident of Waianae, Oahu
. He was survived by three children - Christopher, Jeffrey and Nadine. His memorial service was held at the Nuuanu Memorial Park and Mortuary on March 26, 2011.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
soil scientist, technician
Technician
A technician is a worker in a field of technology who is proficient in the relevant skills and techniques, with a relatively practical understanding of the theoretical principles. Experienced technicians in a specific tool domain typically have intermediate understanding of theory and expert...
and former paperboy
Paperboy
A paperboy is the general name for a person employed by a newspaper, They are often used around the office to run low end errands. They make copies and distribute them. Paperboys traditionally were and are still often portrayed on television and movies as preteen boys, often on a bicycle...
. Kahapea became a symbol of the Hawaiian statehood
Hawaii Admission Act
The Admission Act, formally An Act to Provide for the Admission of the State of Hawaii into the Union is a statute enacted by the United States Congress and signed into law by President Dwight D. Eisenhower which dissolved the Territory of Hawaii and established the State of Hawaii as the 50th...
after an iconic photo of him appeared in newspapers around the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
holding a special edition copy of the Honolulu Star-Bulletin
Honolulu Star-Bulletin
The Honolulu Star-Bulletin was a daily newspaper based in Honolulu, Hawaii, United States. At the time publication ceased on June 6, 2010, it was the second largest daily newspaper in the state of Hawaii...
headlined "Statehood." Kahapea became known in state history as "the face of Hawaii statehood."
The photo of Kahapea was taken on March 12, 1959, shortly after U.S. President Dwight Eisenhower signed the Hawaii Admission Act
Hawaii Admission Act
The Admission Act, formally An Act to Provide for the Admission of the State of Hawaii into the Union is a statute enacted by the United States Congress and signed into law by President Dwight D. Eisenhower which dissolved the Territory of Hawaii and established the State of Hawaii as the 50th...
, admitting Hawaii as the 50th U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
. Kahapea was a twelve-year old paperboy in Honolulu at the time. People had taken to the streets to celebrate Hawaii's admission to the U.S. and Kahapea reportedly could not keep up with the demand for the special edition Honolulu Star-Bulletin
Honolulu Star-Bulletin
The Honolulu Star-Bulletin was a daily newspaper based in Honolulu, Hawaii, United States. At the time publication ceased on June 6, 2010, it was the second largest daily newspaper in the state of Hawaii...
statehood newspapers. Kahapea was selected as the newsboy to hand the first statehood newspaper to then Honolulu Mayor Neal Blaisdell
Neal Blaisdell
Neal Shaw Blaisdell served as Mayor of Honolulu from 1955 to 1969 as a member of the Hawaii Republican Party. As chief executive of City and County of Honolulu, Hawaii, Blaisdell oversaw one of the largest construction booms in city and county history, working closely with Governor John A...
, who was late for the photographer's appointment. With the Mayor late, the reporter began talking to Kahapea, which led to the now famous photograph. In 2009, on the fiftieth anniversary of statehood, Kahapea recalled the instance when an Associated Press
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
reporter took the now iconic photograph, "He just asked me how I normally sold my papers. So, I held up my hand with the paper - and, just a shot of statehood - and that was it!" The photo of Kahapea holding a "Statehood" special edition appeared in newspapers and publications worldwide, including the New York Times. The photograph made Kahapea a symbol of Hawaii's achievement of statehood.
Kahapea become a soil technician
Geoprofessions
Geoprofessions is a term coined by ASFE/The Geoprofessional Business Association to connote various technical disciplines that involve engineering, earth and environmental services applied to below-ground , ground-surface, and ground-surface-connected conditions, structures, or formations...
for Construction Engineering Labs, testing the quality and composition of soil
Soil
Soil is a natural body consisting of layers of mineral constituents of variable thicknesses, which differ from the parent materials in their morphological, physical, chemical, and mineralogical characteristics...
, cement
Cement
In the most general sense of the word, a cement is a binder, a substance that sets and hardens independently, and can bind other materials together. The word "cement" traces to the Romans, who used the term opus caementicium to describe masonry resembling modern concrete that was made from crushed...
and asphalt
Asphalt
Asphalt or , also known as bitumen, is a sticky, black and highly viscous liquid or semi-solid that is present in most crude petroleums and in some natural deposits, it is a substance classed as a pitch...
. where he worked for thirty-one years before retiring.
In 2008, Kahapea was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's disease, but acted as a spokesman
Spokesman
A spokesperson or spokesman or spokeswoman is someone engaged or elected to speak on behalf of others.In the present media-sensitive world, many organizations are increasingly likely to employ professionals who have received formal training in journalism, communications, public relations and...
and activist for those suffering from the disease in Hawaii. He worked to spread awareness of the disease in the state. Kahapea died of complications from Lou Gehrig's disease at Kuakini Medical Center in Honolulu on March 4, 2011, at the age of 65. He was a longtime resident of Waianae, Oahu
Oahu
Oahu or Oahu , known as "The Gathering Place", is the third largest of the Hawaiian Islands and most populous of the islands in the U.S. state of Hawaii. The state capital Honolulu is located on the southeast coast...
. He was survived by three children - Christopher, Jeffrey and Nadine. His memorial service was held at the Nuuanu Memorial Park and Mortuary on March 26, 2011.