Hawaii History

The following important events in the history of Hawaii affected political boundaries, record keeping, and family movements.

Early The islands were ruled by a succession of royal families but were not united under one ruler until 1810.

1778: Captain James Cook of the British Navy arrived and named the islands the Sandwich Islands.

1820:  Protestant missionaries from New England brought Christianity to Hawaii.

1830s-1890s:  Thousands of settlers and laborers came to Hawaii, mostly from the Orient.

1894:  The Republic of Hawaii was established after the Monarchy was dethroned in 1893.

1898:  Hawaii was annexed by the United States.

1900:  The Territory of Hawaii was established.

1959:  Hawaii attained statehood.

An especially helpful source for studying the history of Hawaii is Ralph S. Kuykendall, The Hawaiian Kingdom, Three Volumes. (Honolulu, Hawaii: University of Hawaii Press, 1966-1968; Family History Library book 996.9 H2kr; Volume 1 on film 1321394 item 2).