WHEN HAWAII, in 1959, became the 50th State, few islanders thought they would regret the event. But now, 14 years later, a steadily growing number are contemplating the secession of Hawaii from the Union.

Many Hawaiians and kamaainas (persons born and raised in Hawaii), some students and scattering of political leaders today charge the federal government with failing to reconcile its strategic interests with the best interests of the U.S. Pacific community.

Residents foresee uncontrollable population growth due to the unharnessed in-migration of mainland Americans, particularly of military dependents. There is concern over projected land and housing shortages within the next decade.

Islanders also resent apparent economic exploitation and abuse by mainland businesses which exhaust resources with seemingly little regard for community needs.

Pro-secession sentiments first surfaced in June 1970, when the Hawaii Youth Congress of 160 delegates from 80 high schools, colleges and youth groups, passed the following resolution:

We, the Youth Congress family, see that secession from the United States of America will be a catalyst to the preservation of Hawaii's land, culture and people.

The Westernization, Americanization and colonization of Hawaii has left in its wake pollution, congesting, ugliness on our land; has inflicted economic slavery upon our people, and has disrupted our culture through the domination of American culture.

Statehood brought Hawaii Sizeable increases in funds for education, housing and transportation, but these benefits lately have been offset by a meteoric rise in environmental problems, militarism and in-migration by mainland Americans.

Uncontrolled growth in Hawaii has been accompanied by an apparent unconcern by federal officials in Washington. A Hawaiian living in the low-rent Palolo Valley district said last summer in a community meeting, "If we threaten to secede, Washington's response will be 'so What?'"

Military spending in Hawaii doubled from $373.1 million in 1960 to $765.5 million in 1972 and accounted for 58.9 per cent of all federal expenditures in Hawaii, according to recent Bank of Hawaii report.

This compares with $755 million in visitor spending, $203 million from the sale of sugar and a low $140 million from pineapple sales in 1972.

"Hawaii remains a strategic defense link for the United States and will continue to do so even though defense plant reductions and consolidations are taking place at many locations of the mainland," the report said.

THE entrenchment of the military in the islands has done little to improve the state's unique tropical environment. The Army conducts war games in the lush Pupukea hills, only five miles away from a residential subdivision. Island fire officials last summer blamed the military for the several bush fires in that area.

Since World War II, the Navy has bombed Kahoolawe island, located within 50 miles of Maui, for the purpose of training young pilots. In 1969, a defused bomb inadvertently fell into the backyard of Maui Mayor Elmer Cravalho, who since then has urged strongly that the military return Kahoolawe to Hawaii.

State leaders are now blaming expanding multinational companies for the recent downtrend of island sugar and pineapple sales in the national market.