History of Hawaii in Timeline

Hawaii is a non-contiguous U.S. state located in the Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental U.S. It's an archipelago and the only state south of the Tropic of Cancer, sharing a tropical climate designation with Florida. Uniquely, Hawaii was an internationally recognized sovereign country before its annexation by the U.S., a distinction it shares with Texas.

1900: Hawaii Granted Self-Governance

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

1901: Puerto Rican Population in Hawaii

By 1901, more than 5,000 Puerto Ricans were living in Hawaii.

1903: First Wave of Korean Immigration

The first wave of Korean immigration to Hawaiʻi occurred between 1903 and 1924.

1920: Population Decline

By 1920, the Indigenous Hawaiian population fell to 24,000 due to foreign diseases.

1923: Population Composition

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

1924: End of First Wave of Korean Immigration

The first wave of Korean immigration to Hawaiʻi occurred between 1903 and 1924.

April 27, 1931: Highest Temperature Recorded in Hawaii

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

December 7, 1941: Attack on Hawaii by Japan

On December 7, 1941, Hawaii, a strategically valuable U.S. territory, was attacked by Japan. This event had global and historical significance and contributed to America's entry into World War II.

1947: OR&L main line abandoned

In 1947, the main line of the Oahu Railway and Land Company (OR&L) was officially abandoned.

1948: Hawaiian Newspapers Publication

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. The document predates the use of the ʻokina and the kahakō 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.

June 27, 1959: Referendum on Statehood

On June 27, 1959, a referendum was held in Hawaiʻi where 94.3% of residents voted in favor of statehood.

August 21, 1959: Hawaii Becomes a U.S. State

On August 21, 1959, Hawaii became the most recent state to join the United States.

1959: Statehood and Tourism

Since statehood in 1959, tourism has been the largest industry in Hawaii.

1960: Hawaii's first presidential election

Since gaining statehood and participating in its first election in 1960, Hawaii has supported Democrats in all but two presidential elections.

1961: Hawaii Islanders Baseball Team

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

1964: Hiram Fong sought Republican presidential nomination

In 1964, 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, after President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965, which removed racial and national barriers, the second wave of Korean immigration began, significantly altering the demographic mix in the U.S.

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: Hawaii's Population Composition

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

1970: U.S. Navy ceases operation of part of OR&L

In 1970, the portion of the Oahu Railway and Land Company (OR&L) bought by the U.S. Navy ceased operations.

1972: Hawaii supported Richard Nixon in presidential election

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

1972: Patsy Mink ran in the 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 Football Team

The Hawaiians played at the World Football League in 1974.

1975: Earthquakes and Tsunamis

In 1975, slope instability on the volcanoes' flanks generated damaging earthquakes and related tsunamis.

1975: The Hawaiians Football Team

The Hawaiians played at the World Football League in 1975.

1977: Democrat U.S. Senators

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

1977: Team Hawaii Soccer Team

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 as Official State 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 on Mauna Kea

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

1980: NFL Pro Bowl

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

1983: Ultraman Triathlon

Hawaii has hosted the Ultraman triathlon since 1983.

1984: Hawaii supported Ronald Reagan in presidential election

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

1987: Hawaii Islanders Baseball Team

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

1993: Hawaiians March to Demand Access and Control

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

1993: Apology Resolution Signed by President Clinton

In 1993, Congress passed a joint Apology Resolution regarding the overthrow of the Kingdom of Hawaii, which was signed by President Bill Clinton.

1993: Apology Resolution passed by US Congress

In 1993, The Apology Resolution passed by US Congress, cited as a major impetus by the movement for Hawaiian sovereignty.

1993: U.S. Government Apologizes for Overthrow

In 1993, the U.S. government formally apologized for its role in the overthrow of Hawaii's government. This action spurred the Hawaiian sovereignty movement and led to ongoing efforts to obtain 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: FINA World Open Water Swimming Championships

Hawaii hosted the 2000 FINA World Open Water Swimming Championships.

2000: Religion in Hawaii

In 2000, data from religious establishments provided the distribution of religions in Hawaii.

2000: Median Home Value in Hawaii

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

2000: English Speakers in Hawaii

The 2000 Census found that 73.4% of Hawaii residents age 5 and older exclusively spoke English at home.

2000: Projected Lifespan

The average projected lifespan of people born in Hawaii in 2000 is 79.8 years, longer than the average lifespan of any other U.S. state.

2002: Agricultural Sales in Hawaii

According to the Hawaii Agricultural Statistics Service, in 2002 agricultural sales were US$370.9 million from diversified agriculture, US$100.6 million from pineapple, and US$64.3 million from sugarcane.

2003: Pacific Buddhist Academy founded

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

2003: Hawaii's Gross Output

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: Hawaii schools fail to meet federal standards

In August 2005, a report indicated that 185 out of 282 schools in Hawaii failed to meet federal minimum performance standards in mathematics and reading, based on tests mandated under the No Child Left Behind Act.

2005: Kamehameha Schools enrollment

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

June 15, 2006: Establishment 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 in the Pacific Ocean.

2006: Hawaiian Language Speakers

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

December 2007: Hawaii Superferry began operations

In December 2007, the Hawaii Superferry began operations between Oʻahu and Maui.

February 19, 2008: Barack Obama won 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, then serving as a United States senator from Illinois, was elected the 44th president of the United States.

2008: English Speakers in Hawaii

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

2008: Hawaiian Language Speakers

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

2008: Pan-Pacific Championship

Hawaii hosted the 2008 Pan-Pacific Championship soccer tournament.

March 2009: Hawaii Superferry service ended

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

2009: Hawaii's Health Care System

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

2009: Adherents of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

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

2009: Military Spending in Hawaii

In 2009, the United States military spent US$12.2 billion in Hawaii.

2010: Native Hawaiian Ancestry

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

2010: Catholic Church Membership in Hawaii

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

2010: Median Sale Price

In 2010, the median sale price of a single family home in Honolulu, Hawaii, was US$607,600.

2010: Same-Sex Couple Households

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

2010: Population Increase

In 2018, the population of Hawaii increased by 60,190 (4.42%) since 2010.

2010: Israel Kamakawiwoʻole: 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.

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2011: U.S. Military Personnel in Hawaii

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

2011: Hawaii private school attendance rates

In 2011, Hawaii had high rates of private school attendance. Public and charter schools enrolled 181,213 students, while private schools enrolled 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 to U.S. Senate

On December 26, 2012, Brian Schatz was appointed to the U.S. Senate 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%.

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 in Hawaii.

2012: Hawaii private school attendance rates

In 2012, Hawaii had high rates of private school attendance. Public and charter schools enrolled 181,213 students, while private schools enrolled 37,695.

2012: Mazie Hirono elected to U.S. Senate

In 2012, Mazie Hirono won the election for Senator in Hawaii, following the retirement of Daniel Akaka.

2012: Seed Industry Revenue

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

2013: Millionaires Per Capita

According to a 2013 study by Phoenix Marketing International, Hawaii had the fourth-largest number of millionaires per capita in the United States.

2013: Legalization of Same-Sex Marriage

In 2013, Hawaii became the fifteenth U.S. state to legalize same-sex marriage.

October 2014: Electricity Prices in Hawaii

Average electricity prices in Hawaii in October 2014 were 36.41 cents per kilowatt-hour.

2014: Brian Schatz wins special election

In 2014, Brian Schatz won the special election for U.S. Senate in Hawaii.

2014: Hawaii Expected to Lack Non-Hispanic White Plurality

In 2014, Hawaii was expected to be one of three states without a non-Hispanic white plurality.

2014: Per Capita Income in Hawaii

In 2014, per capita income for Hawaii residents was US$54,516.

2015: Land Ownership in Hawaii

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: Hawaii's Asian Ancestry

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

2015: Hawaiian Pidgin as Official Language

In 2015, the U.S. Census Bureau recognized Hawaiian Pidgin as an official language in Hawaiʻi.

2016: NFL Pro Bowl

Hawaii hosted the National Football League's Pro Bowl until 2016.

2016: Brian Schatz wins regular election

In 2016, Brian Schatz won the regular election for U.S. Senate in Hawaii.

2016: Passenger ferry to Molokaʻi service ended

In 2016, passenger ferry service to Molokaʻi ended in Maui County.

May 30, 2017: Honolulu International Airport Renamed

On May 30, 2017, Honolulu International Airport (IATA: HNL) was officially renamed Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in honor of the late U.S. Senator Daniel K. Inouye.

December 2017: Lowest Unemployment Rate

The historically lowest unemployment rate of 2.0% was recorded in Hawaii in December 2017.

2017: Hawaii's Voting Trends

As of 2017, Hawaiʻi almost always votes Democratic, while Alaska typically votes Republican, a shift from earlier 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 leading to the evacuation of more than 2,000 inhabitants from their neighborhoods in Leilani Estates and Lanipuna Gardens.

2018: Ed Case elected to Congress

In 2018, Ed Case was elected as a representative to the 1st congressional district in Hawaii.

2018: Mazie Hirono re-elected to U.S. Senate

In 2018, Mazie Hirono was re-elected for Senator in Hawaii.

2018: 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 since 2010.

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.

2019: Hawaii Tourism Statistics

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

2019: Population Survival Data

Data for 2019 regarding the percent of the population that would survive to certain age, if their life conditions in a given year, were extrapolated to their whole life.

April 2020: Highest Unemployment Rate

The highest unemployment rate of 22.0% was recorded in Hawaii in April 2020.

2020: United States Census Results

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

2020: Population Decline Since 2020

Hawaii's population has been declining steadily since 2020, mainly due to the increasing cost of living and climate change.

2020: Plastic Pollution at 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: Legislation proposed to create Department of Law Enforcement

In January 2022, state officials proposed legislation to 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 that would create a statewide police agency with the ability to investigate crimes.

2022: Homeless Population Estimate

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 for U.S. Senate in Hawaii.

2022: Hawaii's partisan voting index ranking

In 2022, the Cook Partisan Voting Index ranked Hawaii as the third-most heavily Democratic state in the nation.

2022: Lawsuit Filed Against Hawaii Department of Transportation

In June 2022, a lawsuit, Navahine F v. Hawaii Department of Transportation, was filed against the Hawaii Department of Transportation claiming that the state's pro-fossil fuel transportation policies violated their state constitutional rights.

2023: Hawaii's congressional representation

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 partially opened

In 2023, a portion of Skyline, an elevated passenger rail line in Honolulu, opened for service.

2024: Mazie Hirono re-elected to U.S. Senate

In 2024, Mazie Hirono was re-elected for Senator in Hawaii.

August 2025: Unemployment Rate in Hawaii

As of August 2025, the state's unemployment rate was 2.7%.

October 2025: Expected opening of next phase of Skyline rail line

The next phase of the Skyline elevated passenger rail line in Honolulu is expected to open in October 2025.

2031: Expected completion of final phase of Skyline rail line

The final phase of the Skyline elevated passenger rail line in Honolulu is expected to be completed in 2031.

2045: Target for Zero-Emission Transportation

The legal settlement resulting from the lawsuit filed against the Hawaii Department of Transportation in 2022 will force the state to move more aggressively towards a zero-emission transportation system by 2045.