History of Hawaii in Timeline
Hawaii is a U.S. state located in the Pacific Ocean, approximately 2,000 miles southwest of the continental U.S. It is unique as one of two non-contiguous states, the only state not on the North American mainland, the only archipelago state, and the sole state situated within the tropics. This makes Hawaii geographically and climatically distinct within the United States.
1900: Hawaiʻi Granted Self-Governance
In 1900, Hawaiʻi was granted self-governance and retained ʻIolani Palace as the territorial capitol building.
1901: Puerto Ricans Living in Hawaii
By 1901, more than 5,000 Puerto Ricans were living in Hawaii, likely working on sugarcane plantations.
1903: First wave of Korean immigration
In 1903, the first wave of Korean immigration to Hawaiʻi began.
1920: Decline of Indigenous Hawaiian Population
By 1920, the Indigenous Hawaiian population had fallen to 24,000 due to foreign diseases.
1923: Population Composition in Hawaii
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 Korean Immigration Wave
The first wave of Korean immigration to Hawaiʻi ended in 1924.
April 27, 1931: Warmest Temperature Recorded
On April 27, 1931, the warmest temperature recorded in Hawaii was 100 °F (38 °C) in Pahala.
1947: OR&L Main Line Abandonment
In 1947, the main line of the Oahu Railway and Land Company (OR&L) was officially abandoned.
1948: Omission of Marks in Hawaiian-Language Newspapers
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, predating the use of diacritics in modern Hawaiian orthography.
March 1959: Hawaiʻi Admissions Act Passed
In March 1959, Congress passed the Hawaiʻi Admissions Act, which U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed into law. Palmyra Atoll was excluded from statehood.
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 becomes a U.S. state
On August 21, 1959, Hawaii became the 50th state to join the United States.
1959: Hawaii Tourism Industry Began To Grow With Statehood
It was with statehood in 1959 that the Hawaii tourism industry began to grow.
1959: Tourism as Largest Industry After Statehood
Since Hawaii's statehood in 1959, tourism has been the largest industry.
1960: Hawaii's First Presidential Election
In 1960, Hawaii participated in its first presidential election, supporting the Democratic candidate.
1961: Hawaii Islanders in 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 Seeks Nomination
In 1964, Senator Hiram Fong of Hawaii sought the Republican presidential nomination.
1965: Sony Open in Hawaii Golf Tournament
Hawaii has hosted the Sony Open in Hawaii golf tournament since 1965.
1965: Second wave of Korean immigration
In 1965, after President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965, which removed racial and national barriers and resulted in significantly altering the demographic mix in the U.S, the second wave of Korean immigration to Hawaiʻi began.
1970: Hiram Fong Last Republican Senator
In 1970, Hiram Fong was the last Republican elected to represent Hawaii in the U.S. Senate.
1970: Population Demographics
In 1970, the Census Bureau reported Hawaii's population was 38.8% white and 57.7% Asian and Pacific Islander.
1970: U.S. Navy Buys and Operates Part of OR&L
In 1970, the U.S. Navy ceased operating part of the OR&L line, which it had purchased after the main line's abandonment in 1947.
1972: Hawaii Supports Nixon
In 1972, Hawaii supported Republican Richard Nixon in a landslide reelection victory.
1972: Patsy Mink Runs in Oregon Primary
In 1972, Patsy Mink ran in the Oregon primary.
1973: Honolulu Marathon
Hawaii has hosted the Honolulu Marathon since 1973.
1974: The Hawaiians in 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 World Football League
The Hawaiians played at the World Football League in 1974 and 1975.
1977: Hawaii's Senators Both Democrats
Since 1977, both of Hawaii's U.S. Senators have been Democrats.
1977: Team Hawaii in North American Soccer League
Team Hawaii, a North American Soccer League team, played in 1977.
1978: Ironman World Championship Triathlon Race
Hawaii has hosted the Ironman World Championship triathlon race since 1978.
1978: Hawaii's Official Languages Listed in State Constitution
In 1978, English and Hawaiian were listed as Hawaii's official languages in the state's constitution, Article XV, Section 4.
1978: Hawaiian Added as Official Language
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 Observed
In May 1979, Hawaii's record low temperature was 12 °F (−11 °C), observed on the summit of Mauna Kea.
1983: Ultraman Triathlon
Hawaii has hosted the Ultraman triathlon since 1983.
1984: Hawaii Supports Reagan
In 1984, Hawaii supported Republican Ronald Reagan in a landslide reelection victory.
1987: Hawaii Islanders in Pacific Coast League
The Hawaii Islanders, a Triple-A minor league baseball team, played at the Pacific Coast League from 1961 to 1987.
1993: Hawaiian Sovereignty Movement March
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 by Congress
In 1993, Congress passed a joint Apology Resolution regarding the overthrow of the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi, acknowledging the historical significance of the event and the active participation of U.S. agents and citizens.
1993: U.S. Apology for Overthrow of Hawaiian Government
In 1993, the U.S. government formally apologized for its role in the overthrow of Hawaii's government, spurring the Hawaiian sovereignty movement and leading to ongoing efforts to obtain redress for the indigenous population.
1993: US Congress Passes Apology Resolution
In 1993, the US Congress passed the Apology Resolution, which is cited as a major impetus by the movement for Hawaiian sovereignty.
1997: Tourism Contribution to Hawaii's Gross State Product
In 1997, tourism contributed 24.3% of the gross state product (GSP) in Hawaii.
1999: Tournament of Champions Golf Tournament
Hawaii has hosted the Tournament of Champions golf tournament since 1999.
2000: Religious Distribution in Hawaii
According to data provided by religious establishments, religion in Hawaii in 2000 was distributed as follows.
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: FINA World Open Water Swimming Championships
Hawaii hosted the 2000 FINA World Open Water Swimming Championships.
2000: Median Home Value in Hawaii
In the 2000 U.S. Census, the median home value in Hawaii was US$272,700, the highest of all states.
2000: Projected Lifespan in Hawaii
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: Hawaii's Gross Output
The state of Hawaii's gross output for 2003 was US$47 billion.
2004: John Kerry Wins Hawaii
In 2004, John Kerry won Hawaii's four electoral votes by a margin of nine percentage points, securing 54% of the vote.
August 2005: Hawaii Schools Failed to Reach Federal Minimum Performance Standards
In August 2005, reports indicated that of 282 schools across the state of Hawaii, 185 failed to reach federal minimum performance standards in mathematics and reading.
2005: Kamehameha Schools Enrollment
In 2005, Kamehameha Schools enrolled 5,398 students, representing 8.4% of the Native Hawaiian children in the state.
June 15, 2006: Proclamation of Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument
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: Total Speakers of Hawaiian Language in Hawaii
According to the United States Census, in 2006–2008, there were more than 24,000 total speakers of the Hawaiian language in Hawaii.
December 2007: Hawaii Superferry Launch
In December 2007, the Hawaii Superferry began operating between Oʻahu and Maui.
February 19, 2008: Obama Wins Hawaii Democratic Caucus
On February 19, 2008, Barack Obama won the Hawaii Democratic caucus with 76% of the vote.
November 4, 2008: Obama Elected President
On November 4, 2008, Honolulu-born Barack Obama was elected the 44th president of the United States.
2008: Percentage of Hawaii Residents Speaking English at Home
According to the 2008 American Community Survey, 74.6% of Hawaii's residents older than 5 speak only English at home.
2008: Total Speakers of Hawaiian Language in Hawaii
According to the United States Census, in 2006–2008, there were more than 24,000 total speakers of the Hawaiian language in Hawaii.
2008: Pan-Pacific Championship Soccer Tournaments
Hawaii hosted the 2008 Pan-Pacific Championship and 2012 Hawaiian Islands Invitational soccer tournaments.
March 2009: Hawaii Superferry Service Ends
In March 2009, the Hawaii Superferry ceased operations due to protests and legal challenges related to environmental impact statements.
2009: Health Care System in Hawaii
As of 2009, Hawaii's health care system insures 92% of residents.
2009: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Adherents in Hawaii
In 2009, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints had 68,128 adherents in Hawaii.
2009: United States Military Spending in Hawaii
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: Catholic Church Adherents in Hawaii
In 2010, the Catholic Church was the largest religious denomination in Hawaii by membership, with 249,619 adherents.
2010: Number of Same-Sex Couple Households in Hawaii
In 2010, the number of same-sex couple households in Hawaii was 3,239, representing a 35.5% increase from a decade earlier.
2010: Median Sale Price of Single Family Home in Honolulu
Research from the National Association of Realtors places the 2010 median sale price of a single family home in Honolulu, Hawaii, at US$607,600.
2010: Population Increase
The population in Hawaii increased by 60,190 (4.42%) since 2010.
2011: U.S. Military Personnel
As of 2011, the U.S. military reported it had 42,371 personnel on the islands.
2011: Hawaii Public and Charter Schools Enrollment
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: 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, following the death of Senator Daniel Inouye.
2012: LGBTQIA+ Adults in Hawaii
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: Hawaii Public and Charter Schools Enrollment
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 Golf Tournament
Hawaii has hosted the Lotte Championship golf tournament since 2012.
2012: Non-Hispanic White Population Under Age 1
In 2012, 14.5% of the resident population under age 1 in Hawaii was non-Hispanic white.
2012: Mazie Hirono Wins Senate Seat
In 2012, Mazie Hirono won the election for Senator in Hawaii, succeeding Daniel Akaka.
2012: Value of Seeds Yielded in Hawaii
In 2012, seeds yielded US$264 million in Hawaii, supporting 1,400 workers.
2013: Hawaii 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: Hawaii Legalizes Same-Sex Marriage
In 2013, Hawaii became the fifteenth U.S. state to legalize same-sex marriage, reportedly boosting tourism by $217 million.
October 2014: Average Electricity Prices in Hawaii
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 to retain his seat as a U.S. Senator for Hawaii.
2014: Hawaii expected to be a 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
In 2014, the per capita income for Hawaii residents was US$54,516.
December 2015: Unemployment Rate in Hawaii
As of December 2015, the state of Hawaii'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, including over 50% by federal and state governments, as well as the established sugar and pineapple companies.
2015: Large Asian Ancestry in Hawaii
As of 2015, a large proportion of Hawaii's population has Asian ancestry, especially Filipino, Japanese, and Chinese, many of whom are descendants of immigrants who worked on sugarcane plantations in the mid-to-late 19th century.
2015: Hawaiian Pidgin Recognized as Official Language
In 2015, the U.S. Census Bureau recognized Hawaiian Pidgin as an official language in Hawaiʻi.
2016: Brian Schatz Wins Regular Election
In 2016, Brian Schatz won the regular election in Hawaii as Senator.
2016: Passenger Ferry to Molokai Ends
In 2016, passenger ferry service to Molokai was discontinued.
May 30, 2017: Honolulu International Airport Renamed
On May 30, 2017, Honolulu International Airport was officially renamed Daniel K. Inouye International Airport, in honor of the late U.S. Senator Daniel K. Inouye.
2017: Political Trends in Hawaii and Alaska
As of 2017, Hawaiʻi almost always votes Democratic, while Alaska typically votes Republican, contrary to initial predictions.
May 2018: Kīlauea Eruption
In May 2018, Kīlauea erupted, opening 22 fissure vents on its eastern rift zone, destroying at least 36 buildings and necessitating the evacuation of more than 2,000 inhabitants.
2018: Ed Case Elected to 1st Congressional District
In 2018, Ed Case was elected as the representative for Hawaii's 1st congressional district.
2018: Mazie Hirono Re-elected Senator
In 2018, Mazie Hirono was re-elected as Senator in Hawaii.
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: Hawaii Population Estimate
In 2018, the United States Census Bureau estimated the population of Hawaii to be 1,420,491, a decrease of 7,047 from the previous year, but an increase of 60,190 (4.42%) since 2010.
2019: Tourism in Hawaii
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. In 2019, tourism provided over 216,000 jobs statewide and contributed more than $2 billion in tax revenue.
2020: United States Census Data
According to the 2020 United States Census, Hawaii had a population of 1,455,271.
2020: Plastic Pollution Report on Kamilo Beach
In 2020, the Center for Biological Diversity reported on the plastic pollution of Hawaii's Kamilo beach, citing "massive piles of plastic waste".
2020: Hawaii Ranked Among Easiest States to Vote In
In a 2020 study, Hawaii was ranked as the 6th easiest state for citizens to vote in.
January 2022: Proposed Department of Law Enforcement
In January 2022, state officials proposed legislation to create a new Department of Law Enforcement, consolidating the sheriff department and the criminal investigation division to create a statewide police agency.
2022: Homeless Population
According to HUD's 2022 Annual Homeless Assessment Report, there were an estimated 5,967 homeless people in Hawaii.
2022: Brian Schatz Wins Regular Election
In 2022, Brian Schatz won the regular election in Hawaii as Senator.
2022: Hawaii Ranked as Third Most Democratic State
In 2022, the Cook Partisan Voting Index ranked Hawaii as the third-most heavily Democratic state in the nation.
2023: All Hawaii's Congressional Seats Held by Democrats
As of 2023, all four of Hawaii's seats in the United States Congress (two senators and two representatives) are held by Democrats.
2023: Skyline Rail Line Opens
In 2023, a portion of the Skyline elevated passenger rail line, operated by HART, opened for service in Honolulu.
2024: Mazie Hirono Wins Senate Seat
In 2024, Mazie Hirono won the election for Senator in Hawaii.
October 2025: Next Phase of Skyline Expected to Open
The next phase of Honolulu's Skyline rail line is expected to open in October 2025.
2031: Final Phase of Skyline to Open
The final phase of the Skyline rail line in Honolulu is projected to open in 2031.
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