Chester Kahapea, Date of Birth, Place of Birth, Date of Death

    

Chester Kahapea

American scientist

Date of Birth: 14-Mar-1945

Place of Birth: Honolulu, Hawaii, United States

Date of Death: 04-Mar-2011

Profession: scientist, technician

Nationality: United States

Zodiac Sign: Pisces


Show Famous Birthdays Today, United States

👉 Worldwide Celebrity Birthdays Today

About Chester Kahapea

  • Chester Frank Kahapea (March 14, 1945 – March 4, 2011) 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.

Read more at Wikipedia

See Also