History

A thousand or more years before Columbus arrived in the New World, Polynesian settlers arrived in Hawaii from the Marquesas Islands. In 1778 Captain James Cook "discovered" Hawaii. In 1795 King Kamehameha I united all of the Hawaiian Islands.

The 1820s saw the arrival of missionaries from New England. Less than 100 years after the islands were unified by Kamehameha I, the Hawaiian monarchy was overthrown by government white ministers, planters and businessmen, establishing the Republic of Hawaii.

The Republic lasted only until 1898 when the United States annexed Hawaii. On December 7, 1941, the Empire of Japan attacked Pearl Harbor and the United States entered World War II.

In 1959 Hawaii became 50th U.S. state.

History buffs can explore the last 1600-1700 years of Hawaiian history on each of major islands through cultural centers, museums, and tours.