History of Kauai

History of Kauai :

KAUAI is the oldest island of Hawaii so it seems only appropriate that British explorer Captain James Cook landed in Kauai’s Waimea Bay for the first time in 1778. Cook’s discovery of what he called the “Sandwich Isles,” named after the Earl of Sandwich, introduced Hawaii to the world.

During this era of western discovery, King Kamehameha I was attempting to unify all the Hawaiian Islands under his rule. Kauai and the small, neighboring island of Niihau were the only islands to deter his efforts. Eventually, Kauai’s reigning king decided to peacefully unite with Kamehameha.

The fertile soil and bountiful rainfall provided excellent conditions to cultivate taro. The plant’s edible starchy tubers were pounded into poi and became part of the staple diet of the native population. Taro plantations are still scattered across Kauai today, contributing to the island’s beautiful green fields of heart-shaped taro leaves.

HISTORICAL SITES ON KAUAI :

Polihale Heiau

Located along the Coconut Coast, this Hawaiian temple still houses ancient idol sites along terraced land and is the largest heiau on the island.

Hauola Place of Refuge

Ancient Hawaiians fled to this sacred spot to seek sanctuary after breaking the law or being defeated in battle.

Waioli Mission House

Built in 1837, the Waioli Mission House is listed on the National Register of Historic Places with its antique furnishings that take you back 160 years. Learn more

Grove Farm Homestead Museum

This 80-acre sugar plantation depicts life in old Hawaii during the plantation era (1864) and showcases the restored Wilcox family home.

Kauai Museum

Established in 1960, Kauai Museum contains exhibits, artifacts, dioramas, and murals portraying the history of Kauai, its people and its unique culture.

Information by : Hawaii's Official Tourism Site - http://www.gohawaii.com

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History's Hawaii

History's Hawaii :

The Aloha State - Became The 50th State in 1959

But the history of Hawaii goes back centuries earlier. More than 1500 years ago, Polynesians from the Marquesas Islands first set foot on Hawaii's Big Island. With only the stars to guide them, they miraculously sailed over 2000 miles in canoes to migrate to the Islands.

500 years later, settlers from Tahiti arrived, bringing their beliefs in gods and demi-gods and instituting a strict social hierarchy based on a kapu (taboo) system. Hawaiian culture flourished over the centuries, but land division conflicts between ruling chieftains were common.

In 1778, Captain James Cook, landed on Kauai at Waimea Bay. Naming the archipelago the "Sandwich Islands" in honor of the Earl of Sandwich, Cook opened the doors to the west. Cook was killed only a year later in Kealakekua Bay on Hawaii's Big island .

In 1791, Kohala born Kamehameha united the warring factions of the Big Island and went on to unify all of the Hawaiian Islands into one royal kingdom in 1810. In 1819, less than a year after King Kamehameha's death, his son, Liholiho, abolished the ancient kapu system.

In 1820, the first Protestant missionaries arrived on the Big Island filling the void left after the end of the kapu system. Hawaii became a port for seamen, traders, and whalers. Throughout these years of growth, western disease took a heavy toll on the native Hawaiian population.

Western influence continued to grow and in 1893, American Colonists who controlled much of Hawaii's economy overthrew the Hawaiian Kingdom in a peaceful, yet still controversial coup. In 1898, Hawaii became a territory of the United States.

In the 20th century, sugar and pineapple plantations fueled Hawaii's economy bringing an influx of Japanese, Chinese, Filipino, and Portuguese immigrants. On December 7, 1941, the Japanese launched a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor on Oahu. Four years later, on September 2, 1945, Japan signed its unconditional surrender on the USS Battleship Missouri , which still rests in Pearl Harbor today.

In 1959, Hawaii became the 50th State of the United States. Beyond the sun and surf of the islands, we urge you to discover the rich cultural history of the Islands of Aloha to add even more depth to your visit.

Information by : Hawaii's Official Tourism Site - http://www.gohawaii.com

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