-
Sometime between 300 and 500 A.D. the Hawaiian islands were settleled by the Polynesians (most likely people from the Marquesas islands). The largest of the islands was named Havaiki, which is also the same name as the former home of the Polynesians.
-
-
-
-
-
James Cook was a British explorer who named the islands the "Sandwich Islands" after the Earl of Sandwich. He and his crew arrived in two ships, the H.M.S. Resolution and H.M.S. Discovery off of the coast of the island Kauai.
-
Before European settlers came Hawaiians viewed the land as property of everyone, however when James Cook arrived he brought with him ideas of ownership. This lead Kamehameha (the first) begain a campaign in 1780 to unite all of the Hawaiian islands under a single chiefdom. He used the modern weapons of the British to achieve said feat and by 1795 he had complete power of the eight main islands.
-
-
George Vancouver (a British navigator) drafted an agreement that would transfer ownership of the islands to Great Britain. This agreement was not ratified, and in response the Englished "settled in".
-
Kamehameha's campain ends and he forms the Kingdom of Hawaii. He takes full advantage of his power as ruler, establishing a personal monopoly over foreign commerce.
-
During this year all of the highely prized sandalwood on the island was sold and Kapu (main religious belief of the island) was abandoned after Kamehameha II violated one of its cardinal rules. This lead to the rise of Christianity
-
In 1820 Christian Missionaries from America arrive in Hawaii to do their work.
-
This occurs through the use of economic treaties
-
Republic of Hawaii forms, Sanford B. Dole (American business man) becomes its first president.
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
100 years later Bill Clinton issues a formal apology for the overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy
-
