Chester Kahapea, symbol of Hawaiian statehood, dies at 65

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Chester Kahapea, who became inextricably linked to Hawaii’s 1959 statehood as a grinning newsboy in an iconic photo, has died. He was 65.

The former newsboy died March 4 at a Honolulu hospital from complications caused by Lou Gehrig’s disease, his son Christopher told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser.

In 1959, the Honolulu Star-Bulletin ran a picture of Kahapea smiling and holding a newspaper with the headline, ‘Statehood.’ The picture went on to be used in numerous publications, including The Times.

-- Associated Press