In Hawaii
300 - 750 A.D.
Polynesians arrive by outrigger canoe from Tahiti
1778
British explorer Captain James Cook discovers the Hawaiian Islands and
names them Sandwich Islands after Britian's Earl of Sandwich. He was
killed at Kealakekua Bay, near
Kona in 1779
1789
The first Chinese arrive after jumping off a trading ship.
1810
King Kamehameha the Great unites all the Hawaiian islands into one kingdom.
1813
The first pineapple plants are introduced from Spain.
1816
First Hawaiian flag is sewn.
1817
Coffee is first planted.
1819
King Kamehameha I dies. Prince Liholiho ascends the throne as
Kamehameha II (1819-1824). He also abandons the ancient taboo of eating
with women.
1820
First American Protestant missonaries arrive aboard the brig Thaddeus from New England.
1825 - 1854
The reign of King Kamehameha III (Kauikeaouli)
1840
The first Hawaii constitution of the kingdom was established.
1848
The Great Mahele is signed by King Kamehameha III which allows commoners
and haoles to own land outright or in "fee simple," a concept
that continues today.
1850
On August 31, King Kamehameha III declares Honolulu a city.
1852
First Chinese contract workers arrive.
1874 - 1891
The reign of King David Kalakaua.
1882
America's only royal residence, Iolani Palace is built on Oahu.
1883
Mutual Telephone Company was started in Hawaii. The name was later changed
to Hawaiian Telephone and then changed again to GTE Hawaiian Tel.
1885
The first contract laborers from Japan arrive to work on the sugar cane
plantations.
1892
Macadamia nut trees are first planted.
1893
Queen Liliuokalani surrenders the kingdom to the United States under
protest.
1895
Queen Liliuokalani abdicates her throne.
1898
Hawaii is annexed to the United States.
1900
Hawaii becomes a United States territory. The Great Chinatown fire leaves
7000 people homeless in Honolulu.
1922
Prince Jonah Kalanianaole Kuhio dies. He was the last powerful member
of the royal Hawaiian family.
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Elsewhere in the World
1513
Balboa is the first European to sight the Pacific Ocean
1814
War breaks out between the United States and
Britain. Ended in 1816.
1846
Mexican-American war begins. The war ends in 1848, with the United States
seizing Caliornia and other territories.
1848
Gold discovered in California.
1850
California admitted into the United States as the 31st
state
1853
Commodore Perry arrives in Japan with the "Black Ships"
1869
Transcontinental railroad completed in the United States
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