A Brief History of Hawaii
| Hawaii is considered a dream holiday destination by many, with its gorgeous islands and beautiful beaches attracting tourists from across the globe. A state that is made up of only islands, Hawaii is the youngest state of the US, and covers 1,500 miles in Pacific Ocean. Prominent Hawaiian Islands are Ni'ihau, Lāna'i, Kaua', Moloka'i, Kaho'olawe, O'ahu, Maui, and the biggest of them all, Hawaii. |
The Polynesians were the first colonizers of Hawaii and it is believed that they arrived in 300 AD from Marquesas Islands. Known for their exceptional navigational skills, the Polynesians, who occupied Hawaii, were referred to as the menahune. Then the Tahitians reached Hawaii, in 1300 AD, and took control of Hawaii. Hawaii flourished under the Tahitians’ rule, and in 1791, all the individual islands were united by Kamehameha to form a single kingdom.
Archeologists say that these settlers had initiated the process of development by building temples and house, planting coconut and banana trees, and introducing livestock and clothing to island life. Small kingdoms were formed, with a king at the helm of each one, supported by chiefs who rules smaller divisions of the kingdom. Then there were the priest craftsmen, who cast spells and built canoes. The lowest of all classes were the kauwas, who served as slaves. Early Hawaiian society also had the kapu or taboo system in place, the presence of which was seen in all aspects of daily life.
The West discovered the Hawaiian Islands on January 8, 1778, when the famous British explorer Captain James Cook landed at what he called Sandwich Islands. The name was a tribute to the Earl of Sandwich. Captain Cook’s discovery paved the way for other explorers from Europe, who then started flocking to the archipelago.
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