Many Tourists who are planning for HAWAII VACATIONS might be interested in knowing about the history of HAWAIIAN ISLANDS. Hereunder is given a brief history of HAWAII
HAWAII – one of the most beautiful clusters of islands on the earth was born as an underwater volcanic eruptions. Now HAWAII has developed into a big ecological tourist place. Historians believe that during 300 A.D. to 750 A.D., Polynesians who migrated from Marguesas islands, were the first ones who settled in HAWAII. These people were very God fearing and superstitious in nature.
The main features of history of HAWAII is as under:
Polynesians settled in HAWAII during 300 – 750 A.D. These people were known as Kanaka Maoli.
British explorer Captain James Cook discovered the HAWAII Islands and named them Sandwich Islands in 1778.
By that time these natives had already become self sufficient and highly organized. They had a great social system and, sophisticated language, established culture and religion.
In 1779, Captain Cook was killed in a Big Island dispute near Kona.
In 1810, King Kamehameha the Great consolidated all the HAWAIIAN islands into one kingdom.
In 1813, King Kamehameha the Great died. Prince Liholiho ascended the throne as Kamehameha II (1819-1824).
King Kamehameha III reigned HAWAII during 1825 – 1854
In 1840, 1st constitution of HAWAII kingdom was established.
On August 31st 1950, King Kamehameha III declared Honolulu a city.
During 1874-1891 King David Kalakaua reigned HAWAII.
In 1883, Mutual Telephone Company was started in HAWAII. Its name was later changed to HAWAIIAN Telephone and was then changed again to GTE HAWAIIAN Tel.
n 1885 laborers were brought from Japan to work on sugar cane plantations on contractual basis.
In 1893, Queen Liliuokalani surrendered the HAWAIIAN kingdom to the United States under protest. Then in 1895, the queen abdicated her throne.
In 1898, HAWAII was annexed to The USA.
In 1900, HAWAII became a United States territory.
In 1922, Prince Jonah Kalanianaole Kuhio died. He was the last powerful member of the royal family of HAWAII.
On July 26th 1934, President Franklin D. Roosevelt arrived here. He was the first United States president to visit HAWAII.
In 1935, Pan American Airways inaugurated air mail service to HAWAII.
On December 7th 1941, Japan bombed Pearl Harbor. As a result of it, The U.S. entered World War II and martial law is imposed in HAWAII until October 24, 1944.
In 1946, A killer "tsunami" (tidal wave) hit Hilo island of HAWAII.
In 1952, HAWAII’s first television station started broadcasting.
In1959, HAWAII was declared as the 50th state.
In 1974, The first Asian-American governor (George Ariyoshi) is elected (1974-1987).
In 1983, Kilauea volcano erupted on the Big Island. It is still erupting even today.
In 1992, Hurricane Iniki struck the island of Kauai and the western shores of the island of Oahu. It did a big damage to the islands.
In 1994, Ben Cayetano became the first governor of Philippine descent ever elected in the United States.
The majority of Kanaka Maoli became landless and homeless in their own country as a result of due a law enacted in 1848. However, despite all the odds, the native people adapted to the situation and even excelled to grow as a nation. Today the population of original inhabitants of HAWAII is very less as compared to total population of HAWAII.
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