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1850, First Imported Workers Arrive from China
In 1850, the first imported worker arrived from China. Workers were imported to work on Hawaii's growing sugar industry. -
1882, Tourism Begins
Hawaii's tourism industry began in 1882 when Matson Navigation Company, founded by William Matson, began sailing vessels between San Francisco and Hawaii carrying goods. His transports encouraged him to purchase passenger steamships that would carry tourists hoping to vacation in Hawaii from the mainland United States. -
Jan 1887, Committee of Safety Formed
The group was composed of American and Hawaiian citizens who were members of the Missionary Party, as well as American residents in the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi that planned and carried out the overthrow of the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi on January 17, 1893. The goal of this group was to achieve annexation of Hawaiʻi to the United States. -
6 Jul 1887 Kalakaua Signed the Bayonet Constitution
The 1887 Constitution of the Kingdom of Hawaii was a legal document to strip the Hawaiian monarchy of much of its authority, The document denied the King most of his personal authority, empowering the legislature and cabinet of the government. -
Monarchy Overthrown
On January 17, 1893 on the island of Oahu, the Committee of Safety and an invasion of U.S. Marines under John L. Stevens overthrown Queen Liliuokalani, the last queen of Hawaii. -
17 Jan 1893, Provisional Goverment Established
Upon the overthrow of Queen Liliʻuokalani in 1893, the Committee of Safety led by Lorrin A. Thurston established the Provisional Government of Hawaii to govern the islands in transition to expected annexation by the United States. -
17 Jul 1893 Blount Report Delivered to President Cleveland
The Blount Report "first provided evidence that officially identified the United States' complicity in the lawless overthrow of the lawful, peaceful government of Hawaii."[1] Blount concluded that U.S. Minister to Hawaii John L. Stevens had carried out unauthorized partisan activities, including the landing of U.S. Marines under a false or exaggerated pretext, to support the anti-royalist conspirators; that these actions were instrumental to the success of the revolution; and that the revolution -
18 Dec 1893, President Cleveland's Message to Congress
"I suppose that right and justice should determine the path to be followed in treating this subject. If national honesty is to be disregarded and a desire for territorial expansion or dissatisfaction with a form of government not our own ought to regulate our conduct, I have entirely misapprehended the mission and character of our government and the behavior which the conscience of the people demands of their public servants."
-Cleveland's message to Congress on the Hawaiian question, -
4 July 1894, Republic of Hawaii Established
The Provisional Government convened a constitutional convention and established the Republic of Hawaiʻi on July 4, 1894. -
24 Jan 1895, Liliuokalani signed the Abdication Document
On January 24, 1895, Liliuokalani signed a five-page letter of abdication and a one-page oath of loyalty to the Republic of Hawaii. "I, Liliuokalani, by the Grace of God, and under the Constitution of the Hawaiian Kingdom, Queen, do hereby solemnly protest against any and all acts done against myself and the constitutional Government of the Hawaiian Kingdom by certain persons claiming to have established a Provisional Government of and for this Kingdom." -
8 Jun 1896, Hawaiian Language Banned in Schools
The English Language shall be the medium and basis of instruction in all public and private schools, provided that where it is desired that another language shall be taught in addition to the English language, such instruction may be authorized by the Department, either by its rules, the curriculum of the school, or by direct order in any particular instance. Any schools that shall not conform to the provisions of this section shall not be recognized by the Department. [signed] June 8, 1896 Sanf -
4 Mar 1897, WIlliam Mickinley took office
When Grover Cleveland's presidency ended in March 1897, former American Civil War soldier William McKinley took office. McKinley believed in increasing American prominence on the international stage. -
16 Jul 1897, Treaty of Annexation
President Benjamin Harrison submitted a treaty to annex the Hawaiian islands to the U.S. Senate for ratification. In 1897, the treaty effort was blocked when the newly-formed Hawaiian Patriotic League, composed of native Hawaiians, successfully petitioned the U.S. Congress in opposition of the treaty -
25 Apr 1898, Start of Spanish-American War
Under McKinley's policies, Americans were sent to fight against Spain in Cuba, the Philippines, and Puerto Rico in the Spanish–American War of 1898. Hawaii's strategic location to support warfare in the Philippines made it especially important to American interests. -
4 Jul 1898, Hawaii Annexed
On 4 July 1898 Congress passed the Newlands Resolution (named after Congressman Francis Newlands) which officially annexed Hawaii to the United States.[7] The resolution was signed by McKinley on 7 July.[ -
21 Aug 1959 Statehood
In March 1959, both houses of Congress passed the Hawaii Admission Act and U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed it into law. On August 21, church bells throughout Honolulu were rung upon the proclamation that Hawaii was finally a US state. -
23 Nov 1993, U.S Public Law 103-150
United States Public Law 103-150 states that Hawaiian people never legally ceased to be a sovereign separate independent nation. "on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the illegal overthrow of the Kingdom of Hawaii on January 17, 1893, acknowledges the historical significance of this event which resulted in the suppression of the inherent sovereignty of the Native Hawaiian people... apologizes to Native Hawaiians on behalf of the people of the United States for the overthrow of the Kingdo
