Newest Purple Heart State in the Union: Hawaiʻi

Oʻahu state Sen. Mike Gabbard earlier this month presented a certificate on behalf of the Hawaiʻi Senate to commemorate Gov. Josh Green officially proclaiming Hawaiʻi as a Purple Heart State.

The Purple Heart is an esteemed symbol of sacrifice and valor, awarded to military veterans wounded or killed in action. It was originally given in 1782 as the Badge of Military Merit by then-Gen. George Washington.

Washington, who was commander-in-chief of the Continental Army at the time, created the medal Aug. 7 that year to honor regular soldiers and non-commissioned officers who demonstrated “not only instances of unusual gallantry in battle, but also extraordinary fidelity and essential service in any way” during the American Revolution.

The Continental Army — after waging war for more than 7 years by that summer — had experienced thousands of casualties and losses.

Existing records of the time show Washington personally awarded the Badge of Military Merit — which he designed in “the figure of a heart in purple cloth or silk, edged with narrow lace or binding” — to three non-commissioned officers.

It would be another 150 years before it was awarded again — not until Feb. 22, 1932, on the anniversary of Washington’s birth.

U.S. Army Chief of Staff Gen. Douglas MacArthur announced that day — in honor of Washington’s memory and military achievements — that World War I veterans who were wounded or received a Meritorious Service Citation were eligible to receive the medal, renamed Purple Heart.

MacArthur oversaw the medal’s redesign to the modern Purple Heart — a bronze-bordered purple heart-shaped medal bearing Washington’s profile and coat of arms — and was the recipient of Purple Heart No. 1.

Nearly 2 million Purple Hearts have been awarded to service members since 1932, with the most awarded — an estimated just more than 1 million — during World War II.

Green made his proclamation Aug. 7, National Purple Heart Day.

A Hawaiʻi House of Representatives resolution approved during the 2025 state legislative session formally requested him to proclaim Hawaiʻi a Purple Heart State.

Gabbard also introduced Senate Resolution 93 requesting the City and County of Honolulu to light up City Hall with purple lights each year on Aug. 7 in honor of National Purple Heart Day.

“It was an honor to stand with Gov. Green, [Oʻahu state] Rep. [Sam Satoru] Kong and the Military Order of the Purple Heart Rainbow Chapter Number 483 to celebrate Hawai‘i becoming a Purple Heart State,” said the O‘ahu lawmaker in an announcement about the designation. “We’re making sure our state sets aside time each year to remember and mahalo our Purple Heart recipients.”

A state becomes a Purple Heart State through legislative action and often serves as a jumping off point to identify and implement further support for a state’s military service members. The designation also helps bring more awareness to the sacrifices of the men and women wounded or killed during their service.

Communities such as cities and counties also can also receive the Purple Heart designation.

Gabbard gave a special mahalo to retired Sgt. 1st Class Takumi Abe, to whom he presenting an honorary state Senate certificate, for his tireless leadership in making Hawai‘i’s Purple Heart State designation happen.

“This was especially meaningful knowing my daughter, Tulsi, currently a lieutenant colonel in the Army Reserves, was the officer who originally awarded him his Purple Heart,” wrote the O‘ahu lawmaker in an Aug. 7 Facebook post, of course speaking about current U.S. National Intelligence director and former Democratic U.S. Congresswoman from Hawai‘i Tulsi Gabbard.

Gabbard presented Green the certificate from the state Senate during the Aug. 7 proclamation ceremony, celebrating the significant moment while reaffirming the state’s deep respect and gratitude for those who gave all in defense of the nation.

“These heroes — and their ‘ohana — have sacrificed so much for our country,” Gabbard said in the announcement. “We owe them our deepest aloha and gratitude.”

News reporter Nathan Christophel contributed to this story.