Hawaii is the 50th and most recent state to join the United States, situated in the central Pacific Ocean. An archipelago of 137 islands and atolls, Hawaii is renowned for its dramatic volcanic landscapes, pristine beaches, lush rainforests, and rich Polynesian culture. The eight main islands — Oahu, Maui, Hawaii (Big Island), Kauai, Molokai, Lanai, Niihau, and Kahoolawe — each offer a distinct personality and experience.
Historical timeline
Key moments that shaped Hawaii.
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1
Polynesian Settlement
First Polynesian voyagers arrive in Hawaii, navigating by stars from the Marquesas Islands across 2,000 miles of open ocean in double-hulled canoes.
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2
Second Wave Migration from Tahiti
A second wave of Polynesian migrants from Tahiti introduces new cultural practices, religious traditions, and the kapu system governing Hawaiian society.
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3
European Contact — Captain Cook Arrives
British explorer Captain James Cook becomes the first European to reach Hawaii, arriving at Waimea, Kauai. He names them the Sandwich Islands after his patron the Earl of Sandwich.
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4
Death of Captain Cook
Captain Cook is killed during a confrontation at Kealakekua Bay on the Big Island following an attempted kidnapping of Chief Kalani'opu'u. His death marks a turning point in Hawaii-Western relations.
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5
Battle of Nu'uanu — Kingdom Unification
King Kamehameha I defeats Oahu's forces at the Battle of Nu'uanu Pali, driving warriors off the cliffs. He unifies the Hawaiian Islands (except Kauai) under one kingdom.
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6
Complete Unification of Hawaii
Kauai's King Kaumuali'i cedes his island to Kamehameha I, completing the unification of all Hawaiian Islands under the Kingdom of Hawaii.
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7
Arrival of Christian Missionaries
The first American Protestant missionaries from New England arrive in Hawaii, beginning a transformation of Hawaiian culture, language, and governance.
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8
Hawaii's First Constitution
King Kamehameha III enacts Hawaii's first written constitution, establishing a constitutional monarchy and beginning the transition to Western-style governance.
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9
Great Mahele — Land Division
The Great Mahele land redistribution allows foreigners to own land in Hawaii for the first time. Many Native Hawaiians lose ancestral lands to foreign sugar planters.
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10
Overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom
American sugar planters and US Marines overthrow Queen Lili'uokalani, ending the Hawaiian monarchy. The Queen is imprisoned in Iolani Palace. The US government later acknowledges the illegal nature of the overthrow.
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11
Annexation by the United States
The US Congress passes the Newlands Resolution, annexing Hawaii as a US territory. Hawaii becomes strategically vital for Pacific military operations.
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12
Attack on Pearl Harbor — WWII
Japan's surprise attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941 kills 2,403 Americans and sinks or damages 19 US naval vessels. The attack propels the US into World War II.
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13
Hawaii Statehood
Hawaii becomes the 50th state of the United States on August 21, 1959, following a statehood vote in which 93% of Hawaiians voted in favor.
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14
US Apology Resolution
The US Congress passes Public Law 103-150, formally apologizing to Native Hawaiians for the illegal overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom in 1893 and acknowledging the historical injustice.
Historical sites
Places where Hawaii's past comes alive.
Iolani Palace
The only royal palace on US soil, where King Kalakaua and Queen Lili'uokalani ruled Hawaii's kingdom until the 1893 overthrow. Guided tours reveal the lavish state rooms and the basement cell where the Queen was imprisoned.
Pearl Harbor National Memorial
The site of Japan's December 7, 1941 attack that launched the US into WWII. The USS Arizona Memorial spans the sunken battleship where 1,177 sailors remain entombed. The USS Missouri battleship is moored nearby.
Pu'uhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park
A 'place of refuge' in ancient Hawaii where kapu-breakers and defeated warriors could seek sanctuary. Restored wooden ki'i (temple images), a royal fishpond, and the Great Wall create a vivid picture of pre-contact Hawaiian life.
Bishop Museum
Hawaii's largest museum and the world's premier repository of Pacific and Hawaiian culture. The Hawaiian Hall's three-story Victorian building houses feather capes, royal artifacts, and natural history collections unmatched anywhere.
Waipio Valley
Sacred valley of the ancient Hawaiian chiefs, once densely populated with thousands of residents. One of the most historically significant and visually dramatic places in Hawaii, with 2,000-foot cliffs and a black sand beach.
Kamehameha I Birthplace (Kohala)
The birthplace of King Kamehameha I, who united the Hawaiian islands into a single kingdom in 1810. The Kohala region preserves numerous heiau (temples) and archaeological sites from this era.