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| Hawaiian
History |
| The
islands, we call Hawaii were produced by the Hawaiian hot spot miles
below the oceans surface millions of years ago. This hot spot began
spewing magma through the earths crust and this eventually built up
over time until it breached the oceans surface and formed land. They
remained uninhabited for millions of years and were first populated
by Polynesians some 1500-2000 years ago. It is thought that the original
settlers were voyagers from the Marquesas. Originally each of the
islands was independently governed by locally based monarchs but in
1795, the islands were united for the first time under a single ruler:
King Kamehameha I. The Hawaiian
Historical Society, founded in 1892, is dedicated to preserving
historical materials relating to Hawaii and the Pacific region and
to publishing scholarly research on Hawaiian and Pacific history.
In addition, the Society presents lectures and other programs, free
to the public, on various aspects of Hawaiian history. |
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- 500 - First settlers arrive in Hawaii from Polynesia, possibly
from the Marquesas, navigating across the Pacific by the stars, sun,
clouds, ocean swells and currents. They sought Havaiti, the ancestral
home in the sun.
1000 - The first Tahitians arrived in the island and probably
conquered the Marquesans.
1175 - A Tahitian priest, or Kahuna in Hawaiian, arrived on
the Big Island. Ancient oral chants name him Pa'ao, founder of the
Kahuna Nui or high-priest line and the initiator of a ruling king
for each island. From Tahiti, he brought Pili, sire of the royal line
leading to Kamehameha.
1778 - On his third voyage into the Pacific, British Capt.
James Cook lands his ships Resolution and Discovery at Waimea, Kauai;
the first Caucasian to make a documented landing in Hawaii. He was
welcomed as Lono, the god prophesied to return on a "floating
island." Although Spanish galleons on their voyages between Mexico
and the Philippines may have preceded him, Cook was the first Pacific
explorer to leave a record of reaching Hawaii. He returned a year
later to discover the rest of the main islands, dropping anchor in
Kealakekua Bay on the Big Island. He named the group of islands the
Sandwich Islands in honor of the Earl of Sandwich.
1810
- Kamehameha
I unites the islands for the first time under one leader. He believed
he was the man destined in a prophecy to do so and had waged war on
the rulers of the other islands with western weapons he shrewdly acquired
after seeing the power of Cook's cannons as a young man.
1819
- Whaling
ships arrive in Kealakekua Bay on the Big Island, starting the whaling
industry in Hawaii, an industry that flourished for several decades.
1820
- First
American missionaries arrive to spread Christianity. Dancing and horseback
riding on the Sabbath was forbidden as was drinking, gambling and
ship visits by women. Hula was banished and adultery was scorned.
A 12-letter alphabet was created to put the Hawaiian language on paper,
schools were established and inter-racial marriage was condoned.
1848
- Kamehameha
III proclaimed the Great Mahele (division), changing the concept of
land ownership. Until then the owner of all land, the king gave chiefs
and commoners the chance to gain title by paying a tax and registering
the land. Few commoners understood the concept.
1850
- Foreigners
were permitted to purchase land. The first private estates were established
in Hawaii by the foreigners (haole) or the children of haole and native
Hawaiians. The Legislature approves hiring of foreign laborers to
work in island fields, opening the doors to workers from China, Japan,
Portugal and other countries that immigrate to Hawai'i over the next
half-century as sugar and pineapple industries prosper.
1893
- To counter
sluggish Hawaiian sugar sales to the U.S., which were severely restricted
by a hefty tariff imposed by Congress, sugar planters plotted to end
the monarchy with a U.S. takeover. Annexationists overthrow Queen
Lili'uokalani. At the time, U.S. President Grover Cleveland called
the coup "not merely wrong, but a disgrace." Nonetheless,
Provisional Government was established and was later replaced by the
Republic of Hawaii.
1898
- At the
urging of Theodore Roosevelt and others, the United States annexes
Hawaii and creates the Territory of Hawaii. Later in the year, the
U.S. acquires the Philippines and Guam. The U.S. Navy begins to eye
Pearl Harbor as a strategic Pacific base to guard against an expansionist
Japan.
1900
- Pineapple
plantations become lucrative businesses and Puerto Ricans, Koreans
and Filipinos augment earlier waves of laborers. Working conditions
were poor and wages were minimal. However, inadvertently, plantation
operators who set up plantation camps according to ethnic groupings
preserved ethnic cultures. Cultural diversity will remain one of the
cornerstones of the island way of life.
1920
- Olympian
Duke Paoa Kahanamoku (1890-1968) puts Hawaii in the spotlight with
gold medals, as he did with his 1912 Olympic medal for the world record
in the 100-meter freestyle and as he would again in 1924 and 1928.
The song On the Beach at Waikiki gave the islands its exotic and romantic
allure.
1927
- Matson
placed the deluxe passenger ship SS Malolo (Flying Fish) into service
between San Francisco and Honolulu, timing the inaugural voyage with
the opening of the new Royal Hawaiian Hotel in Waikiki.
1936
- The
Hawaii Clipper, a Martin M-130 flying boat with private compartments,
sleeping berths and gourmet dining, made the first San Francisco Bay
to Honolulu flight in 21 hours, 33 minutes with seven customers paying
$360 each way.
1941
- Pan
Am's California Clipper and five other Boeing B-314s accommodating
74 passengers were making daily runs from San Francisco to Honolulu.
However, all flights were suspended when World War II is launched
with the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor.
1945
- Commercial
flights to Honolulu resume, but by early 1946, land-based aircraft
(Douglas DC-4s) would further revolutionize travel to the islands.
1958
- Pam
Am's Boeing 707 opened international travel to the islands.
1959
- Hawaii
becomes the 50th state of the United States.
1970
- Tourism
begins to overtake the military as Hawaii's largest industry. Native
Hawaiians and local activism gain recognition through events such
as a protest of the military's bombing practices on Kaho'olawe, voyage
by the canoe Hokule'a from Hawaii to Tahiti and the state Constitutional
Convention, which made concessions to Native Hawaiian concerns.
1980's
- The
islands experience a boom in development with the construction of
new resorts and the expansion of businesses.
1993
- Thousands
observe the centennial of the overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy.
Congress apologizes for the overthrow, and the State of Hawaii creates
a formal process to recognize Hawaiian sovereignty.
1994
- Federal
government conveys Kaho'olawe back to the state to manage until a
government-recognized sovereign Hawaiian entity is established. |
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