History of Hawaii in Timeline

Hawaii is a U.S. state located in the Pacific Ocean, approximately 2,000 miles southwest of the continental United States. It's one of two non-contiguous states and the only one not situated on the North American mainland. As an archipelago and the sole state within the tropics, Hawaii possesses unique geographical and climatic characteristics within the U.S.

1900: Self-Governance Granted

In 1900, Hawaiʻi was granted self-governance and retained ʻIolani Palace as the territorial capitol building.

1901: Puerto Ricans in Hawaii

By 1901, more than 5,000 Puerto Ricans were living in Hawaii, having migrated to work on sugarcane plantations.

1903: First Wave of Korean Immigration

Between 1903 and 1924, the first wave of Korean immigration to Hawaiʻi occurred.

1920: Population Decline

In 1920, the population of Indigenous Hawaiians fell to 24,000 due to foreign diseases.

1923: Population Composition

In 1923, 42% of the population of Hawaii was of Japanese descent, 9% of Chinese descent, and 16% Native Hawaiian descent.

1924: End of the First Wave of Korean Immigration

Between 1903 and 1924, the first wave of Korean immigration to Hawaiʻi occurred.

April 27, 1931: Warmest Temperature Recorded

On April 27, 1931, the warmest temperature recorded in Hawaii, in Pahala, was 100 °F (38 °C).

December 7, 1941: Attack on Pearl Harbor

On December 7, 1941, Hawaii, as a U.S. territory, was attacked by Japan, leading to significant global and historical impact, and contributing to the United States' entry into World War II.

1947: OR&L Main Line Abandoned

The main line of the OR&L was officially abandoned in 1947.

1948: Hawaiian Newspapers Published

Hawaiian-language newspapers (nūpepa) published from 1834 to 1948 and traditional native speakers of Hawaiian generally omit the marks in their own writing.

1949: Drafting of the State Constitution

In 1949, the Constitution of the State of Hawaii was drafted; diacritics were not used because the document predates the use of the ʻokina and the kahakō in modern Hawaiian orthography.

March 1959: Hawaii Admissions Act Passed

In March 1959, Congress passed the Hawaiʻi Admissions Act, which U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed into law.

June 27, 1959: Referendum on Statehood

On June 27, 1959, a referendum asked residents of Hawaiʻi to vote on the statehood bill; 94.3% voted in favor of statehood and 5.7% opposed it.

August 21, 1959: Hawaii Joins the Union

On August 21, 1959, Hawaii became the 50th state to join the United States, marking its official inclusion into the union.

1959: Hawaii Tourism Industry Growth

It was with statehood in 1959 that the Hawaii tourism industry began to grow.

1959: Tourism as Largest Industry

Since statehood in 1959, tourism has been the largest industry, contributing 24.3% of the gross state product (GSP) in 1997, despite efforts to diversify.

1960: Hawaii Participates in First Presidential Election

Since gaining statehood and participating in its first election in 1960, Hawaii has mostly supported Democrats.

1961: Hawaii Islanders in the Pacific Coast League

The Hawaii Islanders, a Triple-A minor league baseball team, played at the Pacific Coast League from 1961 to 1987.

1964: Hiram Fong Sought Republican Presidential Nomination

In 1964, favorite son candidate senator Hiram Fong of Hawaii sought the Republican presidential nomination.

1965: Sony Open in Hawaii

Hawaii has hosted the Sony Open in Hawaii golf tournament since 1965.

1965: Second Wave of Korean Immigration

In 1965, the second wave of Korean immigration to Hawaiʻi began after President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965.

1970: Hiram Fong Last Republican Senator

Hawaii has not elected a Republican to represent the state in the U.S. Senate since Hiram Fong in 1970.

1970: U.S. Navy Buys Part of OR&L

In 1970, part of the OR&L was bought by the U.S. Navy and operated until this year.

1970: Population Composition

In 1970, the Census Bureau reported Hawaii's population was 38.8% white and 57.7% Asian and Pacific Islander.

1972: Hawaii Supports Richard Nixon

In 1972, Hawaii supported Republican Richard Nixon in the presidential election.

1972: Patsy Mink Ran in Oregon Primary

Patsy Mink ran in the Oregon primary in 1972.

1973: Honolulu Marathon

Hawaii has hosted the Honolulu Marathon since 1973.

1974: The Hawaiians in the World Football League

The Hawaiians played at the World Football League in 1974 and 1975.

1975: Damaging Tsunamis

In 1975, slope instability generated damaging earthquakes and related tsunamis.

1975: The Hawaiians in the World Football League

The Hawaiians played at the World Football League in 1974 and 1975.

1977: Hawaii Senators Both Democrats

Since 1977, both of Hawaii's U.S. Senators have been Democrats.

1977: Team Hawaii in the North American Soccer League

Team Hawaii, a North American Soccer League team, played in 1977.

1978: Ironman World Championship

Hawaii has hosted the Ironman World Championship triathlon race since 1978.

1978: Hawaii's Official Languages

In 1978, English and Hawaiian were listed as Hawaii's official languages in the state's constitution.

1978: Hawaiian Added to State Constitution

In 1978, Hawaiian was added to the Constitution of the State of Hawaii as an official state language alongside English.

1978: Hawaiʻi State Constitutional Convention

The Hawaiʻi State Constitutional Convention of 1978 created institutions such as the Office of Hawaiian Affairs to promote indigenous language and culture.

May 1979: Record Low Temperature

In May 1979, Hawaiʻi's record low temperature was 12 °F (−11 °C) observed on the summit of Mauna Kea.

1980: Pro Bowl

Hawaii has hosted the National Football League's Pro Bowl from 1980 to 2016.

1983: Ultraman triathlon

Hawaii has hosted the Ultraman triathlon since 1983.

1984: Hawaii Supports Ronald Reagan

In 1984, Hawaii supported Republican Ronald Reagan in the presidential election.

1987: Hawaii Islanders in the Pacific Coast League

The Hawaii Islanders, a Triple-A minor league baseball team, played at the Pacific Coast League from 1961 to 1987.

1993: Hawaiians March for Trust Lands

In 1993, 17,000 Hawaiians marched to demand access and control over Hawaiian trust lands as part of the modern Hawaiian sovereignty movement.

1993: Apology Resolution Passed

In 1993, Congress passed a joint Apology Resolution, signed by President Bill Clinton, apologizing for the illegal overthrow of the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi.

1993: U.S. Apology for Overthrow

In 1993, the U.S. government formally apologized for its role in the overthrow of Hawaii's government, spurring the Hawaiian sovereignty movement and ongoing efforts for redress for the indigenous population.

1997: Tourism Contribution to GSP

In 1997, tourism contributed 24.3% of the gross state product (GSP) in Hawaii.

1999: Tournament of Champions

Hawaii has hosted the Tournament of Champions golf tournament since 1999.

2000: English Spoken at Home in Hawaii

As of the 2000 Census, 73.4% of Hawaii residents age 5 and older exclusively speak English at home.

2000: Religion in Hawaii

Data provided by religious establishments shows the distribution of religion in Hawaii in 2000.

2000: FINA World Open Water Swimming Championships

Hawaii hosted the 2000 FINA World Open Water Swimming Championships.

2000: Median Home Value

In the 2000 U.S. Census, the median home value in Hawaii was US$272,700.

2000: Projected Lifespan

The average projected lifespan of people born in Hawaii in 2000 is 79.8 years.

2003: Pacific Buddhist Academy Founded

Pacific Buddhist Academy, the second Buddhist high school in the U.S. and first such school in Hawaii, was founded in 2003.

2003: Gross Output of Hawaii

The state's gross output for 2003 was US$47 billion.

2004: John Kerry Wins Hawaii's Electoral Votes

In 2004, John Kerry won Hawaii's four electoral votes by a margin of nine percentage points with 54% of the vote.

August 2005: Schools Failed to Reach Federal Minimum Performance Standards

In August 2005, reports indicated that 185 of 282 schools across the state failed to reach federal minimum performance standards in mathematics and reading.

2005: Kamehameha Schools Enrollment

In 2005, Kamehameha enrolled 5,398 students, representing 8.4% of the Native Hawaiian children in the state.

June 15, 2006: Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument Proclaimed

On June 15, 2006, President George W. Bush proclaimed the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument, covering roughly 140,000 square miles of reefs, atolls, and shallow and deep sea.

2006: Speakers of Hawaiian Language

According to the United States Census, there were more than 24,000 total speakers of the Hawaiian language in Hawaii in 2006.

December 2007: Hawaii Superferry Operation Begins

The Hawaii Superferry began operating between Oʻahu and Maui in December 2007.

February 19, 2008: Barack Obama Wins Hawaii Democratic Caucus

On February 19, 2008, Barack Obama won the Hawaii Democratic caucus with 76% of the vote.

November 4, 2008: Barack Obama Elected President

On November 4, 2008, Honolulu-born Barack Obama was elected the 44th president of the United States.

2008: English Spoken at Home in Hawaii

According to the 2008 American Community Survey, 74.6% of Hawaii's residents older than 5 speak only English at home.

2008: Speakers of Hawaiian Language

According to the United States Census, there were more than 24,000 total speakers of the Hawaiian language in Hawaii in 2008.

2008: Pan-Pacific Championship

Hawaii has hosted the 2008 Pan-Pacific Championship soccer tournaments.

March 2009: Hawaii Superferry Service Ends

In March 2009, the Hawaii Superferry service ended due to protests and legal problems.

2009: Health Care System

As of 2009, Hawaii's health care system insures 92% of residents.

2009: Religious Denominations by Membership

In 2009, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints had 68,128 adherents in Hawaii.

2009: Military Spending

In 2009, the United States military spent US$12.2 billion in Hawaii, accounting for 18% of spending in the state for that year.

2010: Native Hawaiian Ancestry

In 2010, 156,000 residents declared themselves to be solely of Native Hawaiian ancestry.

2010: Religious Denominations by Membership

In 2010, the Catholic Church had 249,619 adherents in Hawaii, making it the largest religious denomination by membership.

2010: "The Voice of Hawaii"

Native Hawaiian musician Israel Kamakawiwoʻole, famous for his medley of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World", was named "The Voice of Hawaii" by NPR in 2010 in its 50 great voices series.

2010: Median Sale Price of a Single Family Home

Research indicates the 2010 median sale price of a single family home in Honolulu, Hawaii, at US$607,600.

2010: Same-Sex Couple Households

The number of same-sex couple households in 2010 was 3,239, representing a 35.5% increase from a decade earlier.

2010: Population Increase Since 2010

The population of Hawaii increased by 60,190 (4.42%) since 2010 to reach 1,420,491 in 2018.

2011: Military Personnel

As of 2011 the U.S. military reported it had 42,371 personnel on the islands.

2011: School Enrollment in Hawaii

During the 2011–2012 school year, Hawaii public and charter schools had an enrollment of 181,213, while private schools had 37,695.

November 6, 2012: Barack Obama Re-elected President

On November 6, 2012, Barack Obama was re-elected for a second term as president of the United States.

December 26, 2012: Brian Schatz Appointed Senator

On December 26, 2012, Brian Schatz was appointed as a United States senator from Hawaii by Governor Neil Abercrombie.

2012: LGBTQIA+ Adults in the U.S.

A 2012 Gallup poll found that Hawaii had the largest proportion of LGBTQIA+ adults in the U.S., at 5.1%, an estimated 53,966 individuals.

2012: School Enrollment in Hawaii

During the 2011–2012 school year, Hawaii public and charter schools had an enrollment of 181,213, while private schools had 37,695.

2012: Lotte Championship

Hawaii has hosted the Lotte Championship golf tournament since 2012.

2012: Non-Hispanic White Population

In 2012, 14.5% of the resident population under age 1 was non-Hispanic white.

2012: Mazie Hirono Wins Election for Senator

Mazie Hirono won the 2012 election for Senator in Hawaii.

2012: Seed Industry Yield

Seeds yielded US$264 million in Hawaii in 2012, supporting 1,400 workers.

2013: Millionaires per capita

According to a 2013 study by Phoenix Marketing International, Hawaii at that time had the fourth-largest number of millionaires per capita in the United States, with a ratio of 7.2%.

2013: Same-Sex Marriage Legalized

In 2013, Hawaii became the fifteenth U.S. state to legalize same-sex marriage; this reportedly boosted tourism by $217 million.

October 2014: Electricity Prices

Average electricity prices in Hawaii in October 2014 (36.41 cents per kilowatt-hour) were nearly three times the national average.

2014: Brian Schatz Wins Special Election

In 2014, Brian Schatz won the special election in Hawaii as Senator.

2014: Hawaii Expected to Be Majority-Minority State

In 2014, Hawaii was expected to be one of three states, along with California and New Mexico, without a non-Hispanic white plurality.

2014: Per Capita Income for Hawaii Residents

Per capita income for Hawaii residents in 2014 was US$54,516.

December 2015: Unemployment Rate

As of December 2015, the state's unemployment rate was 3.2%.

2015: Land Ownership Statistics

According to scholar Winona LaDuke, as of 2015, 95% of Hawaiʻi's land was owned or controlled by just 82 landholders.

2015: Hawaii's Population with Asian Ancestry

As of 2015, a large proportion of Hawaii's population have Asian ancestry—especially Filipino, Japanese and Chinese.

2015: Recognition of Hawaiian Pidgin

In 2015, the U.S. Census Bureau recognized Hawaiian Pidgin as an official language in Hawaiʻi, reflecting its widespread use among residents.

2016: Brian Schatz Wins Regular Election

Brian Schatz won the 2016 regular election in Hawaii as Senator.

2016: Pro Bowl

Hawaii has hosted the National Football League's Pro Bowl from 1980 to 2016.

2016: Passenger Ferry to Molokai Ends

In 2016, passenger ferry service to Molokai ended.

May 30, 2017: Honolulu International Airport Renamed

On May 30, 2017, Honolulu International Airport was officially renamed as the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL), after U.S. Senator Daniel K. Inouye.

2017: Political Affiliation as of 2017

As of 2017, Hawaiʻi generally votes Democratic, while Alaska typically votes Republican.

May 2018: Kīlauea Eruption

In May 2018, Kīlauea erupted, opening 22 fissure vents on its eastern rift zone; the eruption destroyed at least 36 buildings and caused the evacuation of more than 2,000 inhabitants.

2018: Ed Case Elected to Congress

Former representative Ed Case was elected to the 1st congressional district in 2018.

2018: Top Countries of Origin for Immigrants

In 2018, The top countries of origin for immigrants in Hawaii were the Philippines, China, Japan, Korea and the Marshall Islands.

2018: Population Estimate

In 2018, the United States Census Bureau estimated the population of Hawaii to be 1,420,491.

2018: Mazie Hirono Wins Election for Senator

Mazie Hirono won the 2018 election for Senator in Hawaii.

2019: Hawaii Tourism

According to the Hawaii Tourism: 2019 Annual Visitor Research Report, a total of 10,386,673 visitors arrived in 2019 which increased 5% from the previous year, with expenditures of almost $18 billion.

2020: United States Census

According to the 2020 United States Census, Hawaii had a population of 1,455,271.

2020: Report on Plastic Pollution

In 2020, the Center for Biological Diversity reported on the plastic pollution of Hawaii's Kamilo beach.

2020: Hawaii Ranked as 6th Easiest State to Vote In

In a 2020 study, Hawaii was ranked as the 6th easiest state for citizens to vote in.

January 2022: Legislation Proposed to Create Department of Law Enforcement

In January 2022, state officials proposed legislation that would split the sheriff department from the Department of Public Safety and consolidate it with the criminal investigation division from the Department of the Attorney General to create a new Department of Law Enforcement.