Hawaiians begged for statehood from 1902 on. (Delgate Prince Kuhio took out the petition noting that Kam III had begged for annexation in the mid 19th century).   It took over half a century to happen.  Earlier, the USA refused to annex Hawaii for years after the legal overthrow of a dangerous and incompetent, corrupt Queen.  It took the Spanish-American War and threats from Japan to make it finally happen in Congress.