*In 1175 a Tahitian priest (kahuna), Pa'ao, arrived on the Big Island. He was the founder of the high priest line (kahuna nui). He also initiated a ruling king for each island. From Tahiti, he brought Pili, sire of the ruling line leading to Kamehameha.

    *In 1778, British Captain James Cook landed at Waimea, Kaua'i. He was welcomed as the god, Lono, who had been prophesied to arrive on a floating island. Cook returned a year later to and discovered the rest of the main islands. He named the island group the Sandwich Islands in honor of the Earl of Sandwich.

    *In 1810, Kamehameha I united the islands under one leader.

    *In 1819, whaling ships arrived and started the whaling industry. In 1820 missionaries arrived and created the twelve letter alphabet.

    *In 1848 Kamehameha II introduced land ownership with foreigners gaining permission to purchase land in 1850. Foreign laborers from China, Japan, Portugal and other countries immigrated to Hawaii to work in the sugar and pineapple fields.

    *In 1893, sugar planters plotted to overthrow the monarchy and take over the islands for the United States in order to get rid of the high tariffs the US charged. They overthrew Queen Lili'uokalani, an act which US President Grover Cleveland said was not only wrong but a disgrace. However, a provisional government was formed which was later replaced by the Republic of Hawai'i.

    *At the urging of Theordore Roosevelt and others, in 1848, Hawaii was annexed and became the Territory of Hawaii. The naval base at Pearl Harbor was established.

    *The pineapple plantations thrived and in 1900 there was a new wave of immigrant laborers from Puerto Rico, Korea, and the Philippines. Plantation operators preserved ethnic cultures by setting up plantation camps according to ethnicity.

    *In 1920 people learned about Hawai'i when Duke Paoa Kahanamoku won a gold medal in the 100 meter free style swim (which he repeated twice more). The song "On the Beach at Waikiki became popular.

    *In 1927 Matson Lines started service between Honolulu and San Francisco. The Royal Hawaiian Hotel was opened. Flights were started from the mainland.

    *World War II was launched by the bombing of Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941.

    *After the war, flights were resumed and in 1958 international flights were inaugurated by PanAm. Then, in 1959, Hawai'i became the 50th state.

*In the 1970's tourism overtook the military as the dominant Hawaiian industry.