The-ThingsinMaui.net

Millions of tourists arrive in Hawaii annually to begin their relaxing vacations or visit

family for a few weeks.  These tourists need not know the historical background of

Hawaii nor do they need to know much about the intricate island culture.  However, for

those people relocating to Hawaii, it is essential to understand where Hawaii came

from, where it is going, and why the culture is the way it is.  British explorer James Cook

arrived in the islands in 1778, the first European to experience the region.  Captain

Cook originally named his findings as the Sandwich Islands and returned to the islands

in 1779.  However, upon his second return, the captain was killed by the native people.

Nevertheless, Cook’s books and other publications started the influx of European

visitors to Hawaii: explorers, traders, whalers, and eventually missionaries.  The British

influence can still be seen through the inclusion of the Union Jack in the Hawaii state

flag.  While Europeans brought increased attention to Hawaii, they also introduced

influenza, smallpox, and measles that natives did not have resistance to.  Eventually,

Christian missionaries influenced King Kamehameha II to end human sacrifice and the

Kapu system and King Kamehameha III was the first Christian king of Hawaii.  The

interesting arrival of whites to the Native Hawaiian society sparked a revolution of

culture and thought in Hawaii and eventually led to the introduction of western ideals

into the islands.  Soon, people were wearing western clothing and practicing western

religion.  In January 1893, Queen Liliuokalani was overthrown and the Republic of

Hawaii was begun.  President McKinley annexed Hawaii in 1898, leading to Hawaii’s

statehood in 1959.