Hawaii, state, United States: Early Settlers and Explorers

The first known settlers of the Hawaiian Islands were Polynesian voyagers, who may have arrived as early as a.d. 300; but were present by a.d. 800. The islands were first visited by Europeans in 1778 by the English explorer Captain James Cook, who named them the Sandwich Islands for the English Earl of Sandwich. At that time the islands were under the rule of warring native kings.

Sections in this article:

• Introduction
• World War II and Statehood
• The Overthrow of Queen Liliuokalani and Annexation
• Development of the Sugar Industry
• Influence of the Missionaries
• The Rule of Kamehameha I
• Early Settlers and Explorers
• Government, Politics, and Higher Education
• Economy
• Land and People
• Facts and Figures

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