The state Legislature met in a joint session today to commemorate the day 50 years ago — March 18, 1959 — when President Dwight Eisenhower signed into the law the bill that allowed Hawaii to be admitted as the 50th state.

Gov. Linda Lingle, House Speaker Calvin Say and Senate President Colleen Hanabusa delivered remarks.

Past governors George Ariyoshi, John Waihee and Ben Cayetano were in attendance, along with former legislators such as Fred Rolfing, Nadao Yoshinaga, George "Scotty" Koga and Tom Gill.

Entertainment included performances by Danny Kaleikini, Danny Couch, Kalakaua Middle School student Arshiel Calatrava and the Pacific Fleet Band.

F-15 fighters from the Hawaii Air National Guard executed a flyover of the state Capitol.

As expected, not everyone found reason to celebrate.

About two dozen people gathered at the steps of the Capitol near the statue of Queen Liliuokalani, whose overthrow in 1893 set in motion the Islands' move toward eventual statehood.

The group bore Hawaiian flags and performed a chant before dispersing.