History of Hawaii

First Expedition

Jan 18, 1778

Captain James Cook's expedition reaches Hawaii.

Captain Cook Dies

Feb 14, 1779

In a fight between the British and the Hawaiians, Captain Cook is killed.

Kamehameha Unites

May 8, 1810

Kamehameha unites all of the islands as the Kingdom of Hawaii.

Sugar Plantations

Period: Jan 1, 1860 to Jan 1, 1870

Sugar Plantations become a "Big Business" on the islands.

Pearl Harbor Established

Jan 17, 1887

Sugar planters pressure the Hawaiian goverment to accept a new constitution giving more power to foreign landowners and making Pearl Harbor a U.S. Naval Base.

Possession of the U.S.

Jul 7, 1898

Hawaii becomes a possession of the United States.

Hawaii becomes U.S. territory

Jul 7, 1900

Hawaii becomes a U.S. territory, a territory is a area of land jurisdiction of a ruler, or state.

Pearl Harbor Attacked

Dec 7, 1941

Pearl Harbor is attacked by Japanese bombers brining the United States into World War II. Hawaii is placed under "Martial Law".

Statehood

Aug 21, 1959

Hawaii becomes the 50th state.

Female Elected

Nov 6, 2012

Mazie Hirono (woman on the left) is elected the first female U.S. senator for Hawaii.