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Wednesday, June 16, 1999



Hawaii for the ages:

Highlights from
Kamehameha's kingdom, to the
monarchy's overthrow

Tapa

Pre-1810

Bullet 1782: Kamehameha begins campaign to unify the Hawaiian Islands. This includes a decisive battle with his cousin, Chief Kiwalao, on the Big Island's west coast; Kiwalao is slain.

Bullet 1794: Death of Maui's Kahekili, who had ruled all the islands except Hawaii island. Kamehameha overtakes the holdings.


Bullet 1803: U.S.'s $15-million Louisiana Purchase from France doubles its domain.

Bullet 1804: A sickness, likely bubonic plague or cholera, kills 150,000, nearly half the Hawaiian people.

Bullet 1809: Russian governor of Alaska indicates interest in Hawaii: fort is built, imperial flag raised, talks to lease Kauai begin but not finalized.



Whaling begins in Hawaiian waters.

THE 1810s

Bullet 1810: Kaumualii, king of Kauai, cedes his island to Kamehameha; the Kingdom of Hawaii is born.

Bullet 1816: Hawaiian flag designed by Capt. George Beckley.

Bullet 1819: Kamehameha dies, succeeded by son Liholiho (Kamehameha II). The kapu system is overthrown. Also: The first New England whaling ship harpoons whales in Hawaiian waters.



Kinau, a regent to the young Kauikeaouli,
returns from Kawaiahao Church.

THE 1820s

Bullet 1820: First Protestant missionaries arrive on the brig Thaddeus; Kawaiahao Church founded with the Rev. Hiram Bingham as pastor.

Bullet 1824: King Liholiho and Queen Kamamalu visit England, catch measles and die.

Bullet 1825: Kauikeaouli becomes Kamehameha III at age 10. Also: The first sugar and coffee plantations, in Manoa, are started by John Wilkinson. Also: Kaahumanu and Kalanimoku accept Christianity.

Bullet 1826: Capt. James Hunnewell trades sandalwood with China, starting what later becomes C. Brewer & Co. Also: First U.S. naval vessel in Hawaiian port.

THE 1830s

Bullet 1830: Mexican and Californian cowboys arrive on Big Island to teach the cattle business. Also: Sandalwood trees gone due to over-trading.

Bullet 1835: First sugar plantation -- at Koloa, Kauai, by Ladd & Co. on leased land, using native laborers.

Bullet 1836: First English newspaper west of the Rockies: the Sandwich Island Gazette. Also: A treaty is negotiated between the Sandwich Islands and Great Britain.

Bullet 1837: Tidal wave hits Hilo, killing 14 people.

Bullet 1839: Kamehameha III enacts Bill of Rights.

THE 1840s

Bullet 1840: First Hawaiian Constitution of the Kingdom; king shares power with Legislature.

Bullet 1842: U.S. recognizes Kingdom of Hawaii.

Bullet 1843: British naval captain Lord George Paulet seizes Hawaiian kingdom in February; in July, British Adm. Richard Thomas restores Hawaiian flag at what is today Thomas Square. Kamehameha III, in restoration-day speech, recites phrase which becomes Hawaii's motto: Ua mau ke ea o ka aina i ka pono ("The life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness.")


Bullet 1848: Gold discovered in California.

Bullet 1848: The Mahele, or "Division of Lands," by Kamehameha III creates fee-simple ownership of lands. Also: Epidemic of measles, whooping cough and flu kills 10,000.

Bullet 1849: Captain H. Hackfeld opens store which becomes American Factors (Amfac).



Queen's Hospital in the early days.

THE 1850s

Bullet 1850: Treaty with United States ratified; Honolulu declared Hawaii's capital. Also: Legislature OKs contract labor system to recruit foreign workers for plantations. Also: Mormon mission arrives.

Bullet 1851: Castle & Cooke formed.

Bullet 1852: Chinese contract laborers arrive.

Bullet 1853: Smallpox epidemic kills thousands.

Bullet 1854: Kamehameha III dies, suceeded by nephew Alexander Liholiho.

Bullet 1859: Queen's Hospital opens.

THE 1860s


Bullet 1861-65: America's Civil War.

Bullet 1863: Kamehameha IV dies, succeeded by brother Lot (Kamehameha V). Also: C. Brewer is first sugar plantation agent.

Bullet 1864: Kamehameha V sells Niihau to Elizabeth Sinclair for $10,000.

Bullet 1866: Hansen's disease patients exiled to Kalaupapa, Molokai. Also: First monthly steamer service from California.

Bullet 1868: Earthquake hits Big Island, causing Hilo tsunami; 79 killed.



Father Damien with orphans near hospital
compound at Kalaupapa in the 1870s.

THE 1870s

Bullet 1870: Alexander & Baldwin founded.

Bullet 1872: Kamehameha V dies; Lunalilo elected in 1873.

Bullet 1873: Father Damien goes to Hansen's disease settlement at Kalaupapa; he dies there in 1889 of the illness.

Bullet 1874: Lunalilo dies, riot ensues when Legislature votes between Queen Emma and Kalakaua. Kalakaua elected king, is first Hawaii monarch to visit United States; writes song "Hawaii Pono'i."

Bullet 1877: Big Isle tsunami kills five, leaves 163 homeless, causes $14,000 in damage.

Bullet 1878: First telephone lines in Hawaii -- on Maui. Also: Portuguese laborers arrive.

Bullet 1878: Liliuokalani writes "Aloha 'Oe."

Bullet 1879: James Campbell digs Hawaii's first artesian well, in Ewa; field irrigation starts.


Star-Bulletin file photo
The Royal Order of Kapiolani Officer Cross,
now in Iolani Palace, was created in 1880 to
reward excellence in the arts, sciences
and service to the kingdom.



THE 1880s

Bullet 1880: King Kalakaua revives the hula. Also: Hawaiian Bell Telephone Co. established.

Bullet 1881: Norwegian and German laborers arrive.

Bullet 1883: Coronation of King Kalakaua and Queen Kapiolani marks reign's ninth year. Also: Kamehameha statue erected in front of Aliiolani Hale.

Bullet 1884: First trade union forms. Also: First Japanese immigrants arrive; the next year, 1,400 more come.

Bullet 1885: Princess Pauahi Bishop dies, leaving lands to endow Kamehameha Schools, founded two years later. Bishop Museum founded in 1889.

Bullet 1886: Huge Honolulu fire.

Bullet 1887: Kalakaua forced to sign "Bayonet Constitution," which limits monarch's powers.

Bullet 1888: B.F. Dillingham starts Oahu railway.



Damage from the 1886 fire in downtown Honolulu.

THE 1890s

Bullet 1890: Electricity becomes widespread.

Bullet 1891: Kalakaua dies, succeeded by sister Liliuokalani.

Bullet 1893: Liliuokalani and Kingdom of Hawaii are overthrown; a provisional government, under President Sanford Dole, is proclaimed.




About this Series

The Honolulu Star-Bulletin is counting down to year 2000 with this special series. Each month through December, we'll chronicle important eras in Hawaii's history, featuring a timeline of that particular period. Next month's installment: July 12.

Series Archive

Project Editor: Lucy Young-Oda
Chief Photographer: Dean Sensui




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