Today in American History
Events in Hawaii History
Events 1 - 100 of 165
Cook Finds Sandwich Islands
1778-01-18 Captain James Cook stumbles over the Sandwich Islands (Hawaiian Islands)
- 1778-11-26 British explorer Captain James Cook is the first European to visit Maui in the Sandwich Islands (now Hawaii)
- 1792-03-04 Oranges introduced to Hawaii
- 1803-08-09 First horses arrive in Hawaii
- 1813-01-21 First reference to pineapple cultivation in Hawaii in diary entry by Francisco de Paula Marin
- 1813-01-21 Spaniard Don Francisco de Paula y Marin plants coffee in Hawaii - 1st record of coffee growing in Hawaii
- 1819-09-17 First whaling ship arrives in Hawaii
- 1820-08-07 1st potatoes planted in Hawaii
- 1822-01-07 1st printing in Hawaii of a ceremonial broadside for King Kamehameha II by Elisha Loomis
- 1824-09-26 Kapiolani defies Pele (Hawaiian volcano goddess) & lives
- 1825-04-10 1st hotel in Hawaii opens
- 1835-05-13 1st foreign embassy in Hawaii forms
- 1835-07-26 1st sugar cane plantation started in Hawaii
- 1835-07-29 1st sugar plantation in Hawaii established
- 1836-07-30 First English language newspaper published in Hawaii
- 1839-06-07 Hawaiian Declaration of Rights is signed
- 1839-06-17 King of Hawaii Kamehameha III issues Edict of toleration which gives Roman Catholics freedom to worship in the Hawaiian Islands. The Hawaii Catholic Church and the Cathedral of Our Lady of Peace is later established
- 1840-10-08 "Ke Kumukānāwai a me nā Kānāwai o ko Hawaiʻi Pae ʻĀina, Honolulu, 1840", the 1st written Constitution of the Hawaiian Kingdom enacted by King Kamehameha III and Kuhina Nui (Prime Minister) Kekāuluohi
- 1840-10-08 First Hawaiian constitution proclaimed
- 1842-12-19 US recognizes independence of Hawaii
- 1843-11-28 Ka Lahui: Hawaiian Independence Day - The Kingdom of Hawaii is officially recognized by the United Kingdom and France as an independent nation.
- 1845-05-20 1st legislative assembly convenes in Hawaii
- 1846-05-21 1st steamship arrives in Hawaii
- 1847-03-10 1st money minted in Hawaii
- 1847-09-10 1st theater opens in Hawaii
- 1848-03-07 In Hawaii, Great Mahele (division of lands) signed
- 1850-08-30 Honolulu, Hawaii, becomes a city
- 1850-11-06 1st Hawaiian fire engine
- 1850-12-20 Hawaiian post office established
- 1850-12-27 Hawaiian Fire Department established
- 1851-10-01 1st Hawaiian stamps issued
- 1852-01-03 1st Chinese arrive in Hawaii
- 1852-12-17 1st Hawaiian cavalry organized
- 1853-10-19 First flour mill in Hawaii begins operations
- 1857-09-30 US occupies Sand, Baker, Howland & Jarvis Island, south of Hawaii
- 1858-08-17 1st bank in Hawaii opens
- 1859-01-23 Mauna Loa volcano in Hawaii begins an eruption that lasts 300 days
- 1859-09-02 Gas lighting introduced to Hawaii
- 1860-08-08 Queen of Sandwich Islands (Hawaii) arrives in NYC
- 1865-02-04 Hawaiian Board of Education formed
- 1868-04-03 A Hawaiian surfs on highest wave ever - a 50-foot tidal wave
- 1869-04-30 Hawaiian YMCA organized
- 1870-12-19 After 31 days at sea in a small boat, William Halford and 3 others reach the island of Kauai, Hawaii to seek help for the shipwrecked USS Saginaw. A capsize in the breakers meant only Halford survived.
- 1874-03-18 Hawaii signs a treaty with the United States granting exclusive trading rights.
King Kalakaua's US Visit
1874-12-12 Hawaiian King David Kalakaua is 1st king to visit the US as guest of Ulysses S. Grant at 1st US state dinner at the White House
- 1874-12-15 1st reigning king to visit US is the King of Hawaii, received by President Grant
- 1875-05-31 Reciprocity Treaty between US & Hawaii ratified
- 1877-07-23 First telephone and telegraph line in Hawaii is completed
- 1878-07-20 1st telephone introduced in Hawaii
- 1878-09-30 1st Portuguese immigrants arrive in Hawaii
- 1879-03-01 Library of Hawaii founded
- 1879-07-17 1st railroad opens in Hawaii
- 1882-04-10 Captain William Matson founds his shipping company (San Francisco & Hawaii)
- 1885-02-09 1st Japanese arrive in Hawaii
- 1887-11-29 US receives rights to Pearl Harbor, on Oahu, Hawaii
- 1889-11-18 Oahu Railway begins public service in Hawaii
- 1889-12-19 Bishop Museum founded in Hawaii
- 1891-01-29 Liliuokalani is proclaimed Queen of Hawaii, its last monarch
- 1892-01-11 Hawaiian Historical Society is founded
- 1892-06-18 Brothers Edward and Robert Jordan plant 1st Macadamia nuts in Oahu, Hawaii
- 1893-01-17 Queen Liliuokalani is deposed by an American coup, Kingdom of Hawaii becomes a republic
- 1894-07-04 Republic of Hawaii proclaimed, Sanford B Dole as president
- 1894-10-29 First election of Hawaiian Republic
- 1895-11-26 Hawaiian Sugar Planters Association forms
- 1896-10-27 1st Pali Road completed in Hawaii (winds so strong streams flow UP!)
- 1897-02-05 1st showing of a motion picture in Hawaii at the Hawaiian Opera House
- 1897-06-16 A treaty annexing the Republic of Hawaii to the United States is signed; the Republic would not be dissolved until a year later
- 1898-06-15 US House of Representatives passes resolution to annex Hawaii
- 1898-07-06 US Senate agrees to annex Hawaii
- 1898-07-07 US President McKinley signs the Organic Act to annex Hawaii
- 1898-08-12 Hawaii is formally annexed to US
- 1899-12-12 1st case of plague on Oahu, Hawaii
- 1900-04-30 The "Hawaiian Organic Act" is enacted by US Congress making Hawaii a US territory
- 1900-06-14 Having been annexed to the USA on 12 August 1898, Hawaii is constituted as an organized territory
- 1901-02-20 1st territorial legislature of Hawaii convenes
- 1901-03-02 Hawaii's first telegraph company opens
- 1902-12-28 Trans-Pacific cable links Hawaii to US
- 1903-01-05 SF-Hawaii telegraph cable opens for public use
- 1906-04-26 Motion pictures begin regular showings at the Orpheum Theater in Honolulu, Hawaii
- 1907-04-30 Honolulu, Hawaii, becomes an independent city.
- 1909-11-11 Construction of US navy base begins at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii
- 1915-03-25 1st submarine disaster; a US F-4 sinks off Hawaii, killing 21
- 1916-08-01 Hawaii National Park forms
- 1917-06-21 Hawaiian Red Cross forms
- 1918-06-28 1st flight between Hawaiian Islands
- 1922-02-09 Snow on Mauna Loa, Hawaii
- 1924-09-09 Hanapepe Massacre occurs on Kauai, Hawaii
- 1927-06-29 1st flight from West Coast arrives in Hawaii
- 1927-07-14 1st commercial airplane flight in Hawaii
- 1928-05-01 Lei Day begins (a Hawaiian celebration)
- 1931-04-27 100°F (38°C), Pahala, Hawaii (state record)
- 1935-07-05 1st "Hawaii Calls" radio program is broadcast
- 1936-10-22 1st commercial flight from mainland to Hawaii
Roman Catholic Diocese of Honolulu
1941-01-25 Pope Pius XII elevates the Apostolic Vicariate of the Hawaiian Islands to the dignity of a diocese. It becomes the Roman Catholic Diocese of Honolulu.
- 1941-12-07 Imperial Japanese Navy attacks US Naval Air Station Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii; 18 sailors killed, 33 of 36 patrol planes destroyed or damaged, 1st Japanese aircraft shot down in action
- 1944-05-21 WWII: West Loch Disaster - explosion during munition loading kills at least 160 sailors, injures nearly 400, destroys six ships and damages 3 piers and several buildings at Pearl Harbor U.S. Naval Base in Oahu, Hawaii; details were kept classified until the early 1960s
- 1946-04-01 Tsunamis generated by a quake in Aleutian Trench strike Hilo, Hawaii
Famous People from Hawaii
Birthdays 1 - 100 of 159
- 1831-12-19 Bernice Pauahi Bishop, Hawaiian philanthropist (d. 1884)
- 1835-01-31 William Charles Lunalilo, Monarch of Hawaii (d. 1874)
- 1836-01-02 Queen Emma of Hawaii, Consort of King Kamehameha IV (d. 1885)
- 1836-11-16 David Kalākaua, King of the Hawaiian Islands (1874-91), born in Honolulu, Kingdom of Hawaii (d. 1891)
- 1838-09-02 Liliuokalani [Lydia Kamakaʻeha], last queen of Hawaii (1891-93), born in Honolulu, Oʻahu, Kingdom of Hawaii (d. 1917)
- 1840-01-03 Saint Damien, [Joseph de Veuster], Belgian priest and missionary who helped lepers in Hawaii, born in Tremelo, Belgium (d. 1889)
- 1857-08-18 Libert H. Boeynaems, Belgian Catholic prelate and the fourth vicar apostolic of the Vicariate Apostolic of the Hawaiian Islands, born in Antwerp, Belgium (d. 1926)
- 1865-12-04 Luther Gulick, American Basketball Hall of Fame contributor (basketball pioneer; international official), born in Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands (d. 1918)
- 1871-03-26 Jonah Kūhiō Kalaniana'ole, Prince of the Kingdom of Hawaii, born in Kukui‘ula, Kōloa, Kauaʻi, Kingdom of Hawaii (d. 1922)
- 1890-08-24 Duke Kahanamoku, American swimmer, surfer (Olympic gold 100m freestyle 1912, 20; 4x200m freestyle relay 1920), born in Honolulu, Hawaii (d. 1968)
- 1902-12-19 Sol Hoʻopiʻi [Kaʻaiʻai], Native Hawaiian acoustic and electric lap steel guitar virtuoso, born in Honolulu, Oahu, Territory of Hawaii (d. 1953)
- 1906-10-15 Hiram Fong, American businessman and politician (U.S. Senator from Hawaii), born in Honolulu, Hawaii (d. 2004)
- 1907-02-03 James A. Michener, American author (Tales of the South Pacific, Hawaii), born in Doylestown, Pennsylvania (d. 1997)
- 1912-05-29 Iris Adrian, American actress (Blue Hawaii, Bluebeard), born in Los Angeles, California (d. 1994)
- 1914-03-27 Richard Denning [Louis Denninger Jr.], American actor (An Affair to Remember, The Black Scorpion), born in Poughkeepsie, New York (d. 1998)
- 1914-12-06 Mamo Clark, American actress (One Million BC; Robinson Crusoe of Clipper Island), and author, born in Honolulu, Territory of Hawaii (d. 1986)
- 1915-05-08 John Archer [Ralph Bowman], American actor (Destination: Moon, White Heat, Blue Hawaii), born in Osceola, Nebraska (d. 1999)
- 1915-09-02 Dai-Keong Lee, Hawaiian-American classical and theater composer, born in Honolulu, Territory of Hawai'i (d. 2005)
- 1915-11-23 John Dehner [Forkum], American actor (The Right Stuff, Big Hawaii, Bare Essence), born in Staten Island, New York (d. 1992)
- 1916-10-08 Spark Matsunaga, United States Senator from Hawaii (1977-90), born in Kukuiula, Hawaii (d. 1990)
- 1918-05-27 Kam Fong Chun, American actor (Hawaii Five-0, Magnum, P.I.), born in Kalihi, Territory of Hawaii (d. 2002)
- 1919-11-09 Sol K. Bright, Hawaiian steel-guitar player, singer (Hollywaiians), and songwriter ("Hawaiian Cowboy"), born in Honolulu, Territory of Hawaii (d. 1992)
- 1920-07-01 Harold Sakata [Toshiyuki], American actor (Gold Finger, Dimension 5), born in Holualoa, Hawaii (d. 1982)
- 1920-12-30 Jack Lord, American actor (Steve McGarrett in Hawaii FIVE-O, God's Little Acre), born in New York City (d. 1998)
- 1921-04-22 Philip "Gabby" Pahinui, Hawaiian slack-key guitarist and singer, born in Honolulu, Territory of Hawaii (d. 1980)
- 1924-08-28 (Margaret) "Peggy" Ryan, American dancer (The Merry Monahans; Here Come The Co-eds), and actress (Hawaii Five-0), born in Long Beach, California (d. 2004)
- 1924-09-07 Daniel K. Inouye, American lawyer, politician (US Senator from Hawaii, 1963-2012; US Representative, 1959-63), and decorated WWII army veteran, born in Honolulu, Territory of Hawaii (d. 2012) [1]
- 1924-09-11 Daniel Akaka, American educator and politician (Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Hawaii), born in Honolulu, Hawaii (d. 2018)
- 1926-03-12 George R Ariyoshi, Hawaiian-American politician (Governor of Hawaii (D), 1974-86), born in Honolulu Territory of Hawaii
- 1928-07-11 (Carl) "Bobo" Olson, American boxer World Middleweight Champion, 1953-55), born in Honolulu, Territory of Hawaii (d. 2002)
- 1930-03-02 John Cullum, American Tony Award-winning stage and screen singer and actor (Hamlet; 1776; Hawaii; Northern Exposure - "Holling"; The Middle -"Big Mike"), born in Knoxville, Tennessee
- 1930-08-13 Don Ho, Hawaiian-American pop and Hawaiian music singer ("Tiny Bubbles"; "Ain't No Big Thing!"), born in Honolulu, Territory of Hawaii (d. 2007)
- 1931-08-18 Grant Williams, American actor (Hawaiian Eye, Incredible Shrinking Man), born in New York City (d. 1985)
- 1932-03-24 William Smith, American actor (Rich Man Poor Man; Any Which Way You Can; Hawaii 5-0), born in Columbia, Missouri (d. 2021)
- 1933-01-01 Ford Konno, American swimmer (Olympic gold 1,500m, 4x200m freestyle 1952; WR 200m freestyle 2:03.9, 400m freestyle 4:26.7), born in Honolulu, Hawaii
- 1933-02-10 Don Wilson, American rock guitarist (The Ventures - "Hawaii 5-0 Theme"; "Walk, Don't Run"), born in Tacoma, Washington (d. 2022)
- 1933-04-10 Poncie Ponce, American actor (Kazuo Kim-Hawaiian Eye), born in Maui, Hawaii (d. 2013)
- 1933-12-18 Arthur Leigh Allen, American elementary school teacher and suspected Zodiac serial killer, born in Honolulu, Hawaii (d. 1992)
- 1934-02-01 Bob Shane, American folk vocalist (Kingston Trio - "Tom Dooley"), born in Hilo, Territory of Hawaii (d. 2020)
- 1934-09-13 Bill Woolsey, American swimmer (Olympic gold men's 4×200m freestyle relay 1952, silver 1956), born in Honolulu, Hawaii (d. 2022)
- 1935-05-07 Kevin O'Connor, American actor (Bogie, Special Effects), born in Honolulu, Hawaii (d. 1991)
- 1936-01-27 Troy Donahue, American actor (Surfside Six, Cockfighter, Hawaiian Eye), born in New York City (d. 2001)
- 1937-05-04 Mr. Fuji [Harry Masayoshi Fujiwara], American professional wrestler, born in Honolulu, Hawaii (d. 2016)
- 1937-12-08 James MacArthur, American actor (Danny Williams-Hawaii 5-0), born in Los Angeles, California (d. 2010)
- 1938-02-25 Ed Cobb, American pop vocalist (The Four Preps, 1956-66 - "26 Miles (Santa Catalina)"), songwriter ("Tainted Love"), sound engineer and producer, born in Honolulu, Hawaii (d. 1999)
- 1938-06-26 Neil Abercrombie, American politician (Rep-D-Hawaii, 1986-88), born in Buffalo, New York
- 1938-08-08 Connie Stevens [Concetta Ingoglia], American actress (Hawaiian Eye - "Cricket"; Back to the Beach), and singer ("Sixteen Reasons"), born in Brooklyn, New York
- 1939-10-31 John Guerin, American session and touring jazz-rock drummer and percussionist (Frank Zappa; L.A. Express; Joni Mitchell: Linda Ronstadt), born in Hawaii (d. 2004)
- 1940-12-24 Sharon Farrell, American actress (Lori-Hawaii 5-0, Young & Restless), born in Sioux City, Iowa
- 1942-05-21 Danny Ongais, American auto racer (inducted Motorsports Hall of Fame of America 2000), born in Kahului, Hawaii (d. 2022)
- 1943-07-13 Danny Lockin, American actor and dancer (Hello Dolly), born in Lanai, Hawaii (d. 1977)
- 1943-09-01 Don Stroud, American actor (Coogan's Bluff; The Buddy Holly Story), born in Honolulu, Hawaii
- 1944-06-16 Takamiyama Daigorō [Jesse Kuhaulua], American wrestler (1972 1st non-Japanese sumo champion), born in Maui, Hawaii
- 1944-08-15 Pamela Polland, American singer-songwriter (Hawaiianized Pop Classics), born in California
- 1945-02-14 Vic Briggs, British guitarist (The Animals, 1966-68), and producer; later known as Antion Vikram Singh, he created Sikhi devotional and Hawaiian music, born in Twickenham, England (d. 2021)
- 1946-05-03 Norm Chow, American football coach, born in Honolulu, Hawaii
- 1946-06-24 Ellison Onizuka, American Air Force Major and astronaut (STS 51C, 51L - Challenger disaster), born in Kealakekua, Hawaii (d. 1986)
- 1947-04-08 Robert Kiyosaki, American investor (Rich Dad Company), born in Hilo, Hawaii
- 1947-06-16 Tom "Bones" Malone, American jazz musician, arranger, and producer (SNL; Blues Brothers), born in Honolulu, Hawaii
- 1947-11-03 Mazie Hirono, American politician, 1st Asian American woman elected to the US Senate (Senator-D-Hawaii 2013-, Rep-D-Hawaii 2007-13), born in Koori, Japan
- 1948-09-13 Clyde Kusatsu, American actor (Ali-Bring 'em Back Alive), born in Honolulu, Hawaii
- 1949-07-08 Frank Delima, American comedian, born in Hawaii
- 1949-09-10 Don Muraco, American professional wrestler (WWF), born in Sunset Beach, Hawaii
- 1950-01-07 Erin Gray, American actress (Silver Spoons, Buck Rogers), born in Honolulu, Hawaii
- 1950-09-20 Matt Blair, American football linebacker (6 × Pro Bowl 1977–82; First-team All-Pro 1980; Minnesota Vikings), born in Hilo, Hawaii (d. 2020)
- 1951-07-29 Dean Pitchford, American songwriter ("Fame"; "Let's Hear It For The Boy"), and screenwriter (Footloose), born in Honolulu, Hawaii
- 1951-12-29 Yvonne Elliman, American singer-songwriter and actress (Jesus Christ Superstar - "I Don't Know How to Love Him"), born in Honolulu, Hawaii
- 1953-03-31 Dennis Kamakahi, Hawaiian Grammy Award-winning slack-key guitarist, born in Honolulu, Territory of Hawaii (d. 2014)
- 1956-04-17 Elizabeth Lindsey, American explorer, filmmaker (Then There Were None), and actress (China Beach; The Byrds of Paradise), born in Oahu, Territory of Hawaii
- 1957-01-15 David Inge, American politician, Governor of Hawaii (2014-), born in Pearl City, Hawaii
- 1957-03-10 Matt Knudsen, American actor, born in Honolulu, Hawaii
- 1957-06-15 Brad Gillis, American rock guitarist and vocalist (Night Ranger), born in Honolulu, Hawaii
- 1957-09-07 Margot Chapman, American singer (Starland Vocal Band - "Afternoon Delight"), born in Honolulu, Hawaii
- 1959-05-20 Israel Kamakawiwo'ole, Native Hawaiian singer, songwriter ("Somewhere Over The Rainbow/What A Wonderful World"), and Hawaiian sovereignty advocate, born in Honolulu, Hawaii (d. 1997)
- 1960-01-09 Lisa Walters, Canadian golfer (Hawaiian Open 1992-93), born in Prince Rupert, British Columbia
- 1960-07-15 Alexander Dunlap, American astronaut, born in Honolulu, Hawaii
- 1960-08-19 Ron Darling, American baseball pitcher (NY Mets), born in Honolulu, Hawaii
- 1961-09-28 Quentin Kawananakoa, pretender to the throne of the Kingdom of Hawaii
- 1962-10-12 Sid Fernandez, American baseball pitcher (NY Mets, Philadelphia Phillies), born in Honolulu, Hawaii
- 1962-10-13 Kelly Preston, American actress (Mischief, Twins, A Tigers Tale), born in Honolulu, Hawaii (d. 2020)
- 1963-02-04 Tracie Ruiz-Conforto, Hawaii, sync swimmer (Olympic 2 gold/silver-84, 88)
- 1963-08-11 Mike Huff, outfielder (Toronto Blue Jays), born in Honolulu, Hawaii
- 1964-02-26 Mark Dacascos, American actor and martial artist, born in Honolulu, Hawaii
- 1964-09-14 Kurt Gouveia, American NFL linebacker (Philadelphia Eagles), born in Honolulu, Hawaii
- 1964-09-26 Derek Ho, American surfer (World C'ship 1993; Hawaiian Triple Crown 1984, 86, 88, 90), born in Kailua, Hawaii (d. 2020)
- 1965-01-30 Julie McCullough, American actress (Growing Pains) & Playboy playmate (Feb 86), born in Honolulu, Hawaii
- 1965-05-19 Maile Flanagan, American actress (Naruto, Lab Rats), born in Honolulu, Hawaii
- 1965-09-19 Debbye Turner, Miss America (1990) and TV host, born in Honolulu, Hawaii
- 1966-04-04 Mike Starr [Michael], musician (Alice in Chains bassist), born in Honolulu, Hawaii (d. 2011)
- 1966-04-07 Teri Ann Linn, American actress (Kristen-Bold & Beautiful), born in Honolulu, Hawaii
- 1967-01-02 Tia Carrere [Althea Janairo], American actress (Wayne's World, True Lies), born in Honolulu, Hawaii
- 1967-03-16 Lauren Graham, American actress and author (Gilmore Girls, Parenthood), born in Honolulu, Hawaii
- 1967-05-01 Scott Coffey, American actor (Shag; Shout; Satisfaction), and director (Ellie Parker), born in Honolulu, Hawaii
- 1967-10-02 Floyd "Bud" Gaugh, American ska-punk rock drummer (Sublime), born in Kihei, Hawaii
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