A Brief Overview of the Political, Cultural and Agricultural Interventions That Have Created the Hawai`i We Know Today.

By Ida Hills, author of Mahalo, My Love

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From the mists of time when the tip of a volcano rising from the ocean floor broke the ocean surface, the Hawai`ian Islands have been a work in progress. As the lava decomposed, seeds and spore carried by sea birds, trade winds, and the pounding surf, began to take root. A sparse beginning for Hawai`i’s tropical growth. The foods we know today as "Hawai`ian" were brought by man. First the Polynesians in their double-hulled sailing canoes, then other Polynesians from Tahiti brought the staples, coconut, banana, taro, yams, sugar cane, pigs and chickens. After Captain Cook led the way, Europeans and Americans brought delicacies which naturalized and became known as Hawai`ian–pineapple, mango, papaya, macadamia nuts. They also brought new gods and unknown diseases which decimated the Hawai`ian people. In time they stole the Kingdom from the original Hawai`ians,

I have assembled a timeline to show when these changes occurred, and have provided links to the relevant documents of some of Hawai`i’s most tumultuous political moments.

25 to 40 Million BCE

The Hawai`ian Islands emerged from the sea.

1000 BCE -700 CE

Fleets from the Marquesas Islands arrive in Hawai`i.

1100 - 1300 CE

Similar fleets from Tahiti arrive in Hawai`i.

The Polynesians bring with them: pigs and chickens of Asian ancestry, elephant's ear, shampoo ginger, gourd, taro, Alexandrian laurel, ti, sugar cane, candlenut, banana, portia tree, coconut, Indian mulberry, bamboo, mountain apple, turmeric, Polynesian arrowroot, sweet potato, yam and breadfruit.

1778

Captain James Cook "discovers" Hawai`ian Islands.

Feb. 14, 1779

Captain Cook is slain at Kaawaloa, Hi.

1792

The first oranges brought to Hawai`i.

1793

The first cattle, originating from California, were introduced by Capt. George Vancouver

1813

Pineapple is planted in Hawai`i by the Spaniard, Don Francisco de Paula y Marin, advisor to King Kamehameha. The pineapples are from Formosa (Taiwan).

1820's

John Wilkinson brings 30 of the so-called "Hawai`ian coffee" plants from Brazil.

1820

First whalers arrive at Honolulu harbor

The Waioli Hui‘ia Church at Hanalei was established in 1841

1820-1850

The Congregational Church (now known as the United Church of Christ) sends more than 100 missionaries to the Kingdom of Hawai`i.

Oct 8, 1840

Kamehameha III gives the first written Constitution to the people of Hawai`i. Note references to "Almighty God, Jehovah."

1842

The first mango tree brought to Hawai`i

1843

U.S. agrees to respect the independence of the Hawai`ian Islands.

Feb 23, 1843

Lord George Paulet seizes the Hawai`ian Islands and raises the British flag.

July 31, 1843

Sovereignty of the Hawai`ian Islands is restored by Admiral Thomas of the English Navy

1844

Belgium agrees to respect Hawai`i’s independence

Nov 28, 1844

England and France recognize independence of the Hawai`ian Islands

1858

First experimentation with rice, which becomes an important export crop in Hawai`i in the latter half of the 19^th century.

1874

King Lunalilo dies of tuberculosis after three months in office and (Feb 12) David Kalakua elected King

1876

A reciprocity treaty between the Kingdom and the United States allows for duty-free export of sugar, leading to a rapid expansion in sugarcane production.

1881

William H. Purvis introduces macadamia nuts to Hawai`i.

1880's

Switch to mineral oils from whale oil causes whaling industry to collapse. As a result, more focus on agricultural output.

1880's

U.S. re-imposes duty on sugar exports.

1885

Captain John Kidwell credited as being the pioneer of the pineapple industry in Hawai`i. He began crop development trials in 1885 when he planted in Manoa, Oahu.

1887

King Kalakua forced to sign the "Bayonet Constitution" by Missionary Commission who fear Kalakua’s reintroduction of "pagan" worship and the "licentious" hula. Becomes puppet ruler with foreign cabinet ministers.

1889

The first artesian well drilled in Ewa, Oahu–on the road from Honolulu to Waianae–ushering in groundwater irrigation of agricultural fields.

Jan 20, 1891

King Kalakua dies in San Francisco.

Jan 29, 1891

Liliu`okalani takes oath of office and becomes Queen.

Jan 4, 1893

Queen reads proclamation announcing intention to abrogate Bayonet Constitution and prepares a new Draft Constitution.

Jan 14, 1893

John L. Stevens, U.S. Minister to Hawai`i, conspires with a small group of non-Hawaiian residents, including citizens of the United States, to overthrow the Kingdom of Hawai`i.

Jan 16, 1893

U.S. armed naval forces from the gunship Boston invade Honolulu, positioning themselves near the Hawai`ian Government buildings and the Iolani Palace to intimidate Queen Liliu`okalani and her Government

Jan 17, 1893

A "Committee of Safety" that represents American and European sugar planters, descendants of missionaries, and financiers depose the Hawai`ian monarchy and proclaim the establishment of a Provisional Government, forcing the Queen to abdicate.

Feb 14, 1893

Annexation Treaty signed by President Harrison (reached Senate too late for action)

March 4, 1893

President Grover Cleveland inaugurated as president.

Spring 1893

President Cleveland sends special commissioner, James Blount, to Hawai`i to investigate the annexation.

Dec 18, 1893

President Cleveland writes to Congress explaining why annexation of Hawai`i is wrong.

Feb, 1894

Senator John Tyler Morgan (D-Alabama), writes the Morgan Report which attempts to justify the overthrow of 1893 and supports the taking of Hawai`i (He’d never set foot on Hawai`i until it was successfully taken over in 1897).

July 4, 1894

Formal ceremonies for first Republic in the Pacific.

Jan, 1895

Revolutionary activities by ex-Queen and her sympathizers started.

Jan 16, 1895

Liliu`okalani arrested as ringleader of plot; signs statement renouncing claims to throne; takes oath of allegiance to republic. She is brought to trial and confined nine months in the former Palace.

Mar. 4, 1897

President William McKinley inaugurated.

June 17, 1897

Liliu`okalani goes to Washington D.C. and presents an official protest to the treaty of annexation.

Oct. 8, 1897

Thousands of Hawai`ian royalists assemble to protest the anticipated annexation of Hawai`i to the United States of America.

June 15, 1898

U.S. House of Representatives passes resolution to annex Hawai`i as a territory.

July 7, 1898

Senate passes resolution. President McKinley signs Treaty of Annexation of Hawai`i into law.

Aug 12, 1898

Annexation ceremonies at Palace Square

1898

Alfred W. Eames arrives in Hawai`i as one of the original "California Homesteaders" to begin pineapple cultivation. Eames first starts selling fresh pineapple in the year 1900. His company eventually becomes Del Monte Fresh Produce (Hawai`i) Inc.

1898

Japanese coffee farmers establish the Kona Japanese Coffee Producers Association in an effort to improve processing and market a higher value product.

A Hawai`ian family at the turn of the century.

1925

Ernest Van Tassel leases 75 acres on Round Top in Honolulu (Nut Ridge) and begins a macadamia nut orchard, Hawai`i's first macadamia nut farm.

Dec. 7, 1941

The Japanese bomb Pearl Harbor, catapulting the United States into World War II

Aug 21, 1959

Hawai`i inducted as the 50^th state of the Union.

Nov. 23, 1983

President William Jefferson Clinton and the United States Congress pass a resolution of apology for the 100^th anniversary of the Annexation.