All About HawaiiHawaii is one of the most visited tourist destinations in the United States. Its beautiful beaches, friendly people, and eternal sunshine truly fulfill many people's idea of a paradise. Other than great natural beauty and fun activities, Hawaii also has a most interesting culture to offer visitors and an illustrious history. It was more than 15 centuries ago when the Polynesians discovered Hawaii. They had traveled more than 2000 miles from the Marquesas Islands to the Big Island of Hawaii, braving the perils of a long journey in the vast Pacific Ocean, with just the stars as their guide. After the Polynesians, the next group of people who settled in Hawaii were the Tahitians, who established new rules on the island based on their faith in their demi-gods and gods. Although the culture of the islands flourished, there were constant disputes between tribal leaders over possession of lands. During his voyage across the Pacific Ocean in 1778, Captain James Cook set foot on the island of Kauai. He named the islands after the Earl of Sandwich, and they became known to the west as the “Sandwich Islands”. After he was there for a year, Captain Cook was murdered on the Big Island. One of the major turning points in the history of Hawaii took place in 1810, when King Kamehameha unified all the states and islands into one kingdom. After he passed away he was succeeded by his son, Liholiho, who abolished the taboo system of the Tahitians and established a new ruling system. After the taboo system was abolished, the inhabitants of the islands were feeling a loss of spiritual direction. When missionaries arrived in Hawaii in 1820, the locals embraced Christianity without much hesitation. The missionaries quickly established Hawaii as a major port in the Pacific Ocean, and the people enjoyed great prosperity. In 1898 Hawaii became a US territory. Hawaii became a major sugarcane and pineapple exporter in the 20 th century, and its growing economy attracted a great number of Japanese, Filipino, Portuguese, and Chinese immigrants. During World War 2, Pearl Harbor on the island of Oahu was attacked by the Japanese, resulting in great loss for the US military. However, after the US retaliated with the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the Japanese surrendered in September, 1945. Hawaii was named the 50 th US state in 1959. To make your visit to Hawaii more memorable, you should make a point to discover the rich culture and history of the islands. As you come to know the cultural side of Hawaii, you will develop a better appreciation of the people and the land. Links: The Official Tourism Site of Hawaii Photos of Hawaii by Real Travelers |
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