History of Hawaii in Timeline
Hawaii is a U.S. island state located in the Pacific Ocean, approximately 2,000 miles southwest of the continental United States. Distinctive for being one of the two non-contiguous U.S. states, it is also the sole state not situated on the North American mainland. Characterized as an archipelago and positioned within the tropics, Hawaii possesses a unique geographical and climatic identity within the United States.
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
By 1901, more than 5,000 Puerto Ricans were living in Hawaii, working primarily on sugarcane plantations.
1903: First Wave of Korean Immigration
The first wave of Korean immigration to Hawaiʻi occurred between 1903 and 1924.
1920: Population Decline of Indigenous Hawaiians
By 1920, the population of Indigenous Hawaiians had fallen to 24,000 due to foreign diseases.
1923: Population Demographics
In 1923, 42% of the population was of Japanese descent, 9% of Chinese descent, and 16% Native Hawaiian descent.
1924: End of the First Wave of Korean Immigration
The first wave of Korean immigration to Hawaiʻi ended in 1924.
April 27, 1931: Warmest temperature recorded in Hawaii
On April 27, 1931, the warmest temperature recorded in Hawaii, in Pahala, was 100 °F (38 °C).
1947: OR&L Main Line Abandoned
In 1947, the Oahu Railway and Land Company's main line was officially abandoned.
1948: Hawaiian-Language Newspapers Published Until 1948
Hawaiian-language newspapers (nūpepa) were published from 1834 to 1948, and traditional native speakers of Hawaiian generally omitted the marks in their own writing.
1949: Drafting of the State Constitution
The Constitution of the State of Hawaii was drafted in 1949. Diacritics were not used because 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 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 most recent state to join the United States.
1959: Tourism Industry began to grow after statehood in 1959
It was with statehood in 1959 that the Hawaii tourism industry began to grow.
1959: Statehood and Tourism in 1959
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 almost all presidential elections.
1961: The Hawaii Islanders team in 1961
The Hawaii Islanders, a Triple-A minor league baseball team, played at the Pacific Coast League from 1961 to 1987.
1964: Hiram Fong Seeks Republican Presidential Nomination
In 1964, Senator Hiram Fong of Hawaii sought the Republican presidential nomination.
1965: The Sony Open in Hawaii golf tournament since 1965
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.
1970: Hiram Fong Last Republican Senator
In 1970, Hiram Fong was the last Republican 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 portion of the Oahu Railway and Land Company (OR&L) that was bought by the U.S. Navy stopped operating.
1972: Hawaii Supports Republican Candidate
In 1972, Hawaii supported Republican Richard Nixon in the presidential election.
1972: Patsy Mink Runs in Oregon Primary
In 1972, Patsy Mink ran in the Oregon primary.
1973: The Honolulu Marathon since 1973
Hawaii has hosted the Honolulu Marathon since 1973.
1974: The Hawaiians team in 1974
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 team in 1975
The Hawaiians played at the World Football League in 1975.
1977: Both Senators from Hawaii are Democrats
Since 1977, both of Hawaii's U.S. Senators have been Democrats.
1977: Team Hawaii in 1977
Team Hawaii, a North American Soccer League team, played in 1977.
1978: The Ironman World Championship triathlon race since 1978
Hawaii has hosted the Ironman World Championship triathlon race since 1978.
1978: Hawaii's Official Languages Listed in 1978
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, Hawaii's record low temperature was 12 °F (−11 °C) observed on the summit of Mauna Kea.
1983: The Ultraman triathlon since 1983
Hawaii has hosted the Ultraman triathlon since 1983.
1984: Hawaii Supports Republican Candidate
In 1984, Hawaii supported Republican Ronald Reagan in the presidential election.
1987: The Hawaii Islanders team in 1987
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, signed by President Bill Clinton, acknowledging the illegal overthrow of the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi and the active participation of U.S. agents and citizens.
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 Gross State Product in 1997
In 1997, tourism contributed 24.3% of the gross state product (GSP) in Hawaii.
1999: The Tournament of Champions golf tournament since 1999
Hawaii has hosted the Tournament of Champions golf tournament since 1999.
2000: Religion in Hawaii distributed as of 2000
According to data provided by religious establishments, religion in Hawaii in 2000 was distributed as follows:
2000: English spoken in Hawaii homes according to the 2000 Census
According to the 2000 Census, 73.4% of Hawaii residents age 5 and older exclusively spoke English at home.
2000: The 2000 FINA World Open Water Swimming Championships
Hawaii hosted the 2000 FINA World Open Water Swimming Championships.
2000: Median Home Value in Hawaii in 2000
In the 2000 U.S. Census, the median home value in Hawaii was US$272,700, the highest of all states.
2000: Projected Lifespan
The average projected lifespan of people born in Hawaii in 2000 is 79.8 years; 77.1 years if male, 82.5 if female.
2003: Pacific Buddhist Academy Founded in 2003
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 in 2003
The state of Hawaii'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: Public School test scores August 2005
In August 2005 that of 282 schools across the state, 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: 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 sea.
2006: Hawaiian Language Speakers between 2006-2008
According to the United States Census, between 2006 and 2008, there were more than 24,000 total speakers of the Hawaiian language in Hawaii.
December 2007: Hawaii Superferry Operation Begins
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: Barack Obama Elected President
On November 4, 2008, Honolulu-born Barack Obama was elected the 44th president of the United States.
2008: English speakers in Hawaii homes according to the 2008 American Community Survey
According to the 2008 American Community Survey, 74.6% of Hawaii residents older than 5 spoke only English at home.
2008: Hawaiian Language Speakers between 2006-2008
According to the United States Census, between 2006 and 2008, there were more than 24,000 total speakers of the Hawaiian language in Hawaii.
2008: The 2008 Pan-Pacific Championship
Hawaii hosted the 2008 Pan-Pacific Championship.
March 2009: Hawaii Superferry Service Ends
In March 2009, the Hawaii Superferry service ended due to protests and legal issues related to environmental impact statements.
2009: Hawaii's Health Care System in 2009
As of 2009, Hawaii's health care system insured 92% of residents, requiring businesses to provide insurance to employees who work more than twenty hours per week.
2009: Adherents of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 2009
In 2009, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints had 68,128 adherents in Hawaii.
2009: Military Spending in Hawaii in 2009
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, while an additional 371,000 declared themselves to possess Native Hawaiian ancestry in combination with one or more other races.
2010: Catholic Church Adherents in 2010
In 2010, the Catholic Church had 249,619 adherents in Hawaii, being the largest religious denomination.
2010: Median Sale Price of a Single Family Home in Honolulu in 2010
In 2010, the median sale price of a single family home in Honolulu, Hawaii, was US$607,600, the highest of any U.S. city.
2010: Same-sex Couple Households in 2010
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 since 2010
Since 2010, the population in Hawaii increased by 60,190 (4.42%).
2011: Military Personnel on the Islands
As of 2011, the U.S. military reported it had 42,371 personnel on the islands.
2011: Hawaii Public and Charter School Enrollment in 2011-2012
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.
December 26, 2012: Brian Schatz Appointed as 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 in 2012
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 School Enrollment in 2011-2012
During the 2011-2012 school year, Hawaii public and charter schools had an enrollment of 181,213, while private schools had 37,695.
2012: The Lotte Championship golf tournament since 2012
Hawaii has hosted the Lotte Championship golf tournament since 2012, and the 2012 Hawaiian Islands Invitational soccer tournaments.
2012: Non-Hispanic White Population
In 2012, 14.5% of the resident population under age 1 in Hawaii was non-Hispanic white.
2012: Mazie Hirono Wins Election for Senator
In 2012, Mazie Hirono won the election for Senator in Hawaii, following the retirement of Daniel Akaka.
2012: Hawaii's Seed Industry in 2012
In 2012, seeds yielded US$264 million in Hawaii, supporting 1,400 workers.
2013: Millionaires Per Capita in Hawaii in 2013
According to a 2013 study by Phoenix Marketing International, Hawaii 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
In 2013, Hawaii became the fifteenth U.S. state to legalize same-sex marriage; this reportedly boosted tourism by $217 million.
October 2014: Average Electricity Prices in October 2014
In October 2014, average electricity prices in Hawaii (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 become Senator.
2014: Hawaii as a Majority-Minority State in 2014
In 2014, Hawaii was expected to be one of three states that would not have a non-Hispanic white plurality. The other two states were California and New Mexico.
2014: Per Capita Income for Hawaii Residents in 2014
In 2014, per capita income for Hawaii residents was US$54,516.
December 2015: Hawaii's Unemployment Rate in December 2015
As of December 2015, the state of Hawaii's unemployment rate was 3.2%.
2015: Land Ownership Distribution
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 in 2015
As of 2015, a large proportion of Hawaii's population had Asian ancestry, especially Filipino, Japanese and Chinese descent.
2015: Hawaiian Pidgin Recognized as Official Language in Hawaiʻi in 2015
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 ended.
May 30, 2017: Honolulu International Airport Renamed
On May 30, 2017, Honolulu International Airport was officially renamed the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL), in honor of U.S. Senator Daniel K. Inouye.
2017: Political Leaning of Hawaii and Alaska
As of 2017, Hawaiʻi almost always 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, destroying at least 36 buildings, and necessitating the evacuation of more than 2,000 inhabitants.
2018: Ed Case Elected to Congress
In 2018, Ed Case was elected as a representative to the 1st congressional district.
2018: Mazie Hirono Wins Election for Senator
In 2018, Mazie Hirono won election for 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: Population Estimate
In 2018, the United States Census Bureau estimated the population of Hawaii to be 1,420,491.
2019: Hawaii Tourism in 2019
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. Tourism provided over 216,000 jobs and contributed more than $2 billion in tax revenue.
2020: Population Statistics
According to the 2020 United States Census, Hawaii had a population of 1,455,271. The state's population identified as 37.2% Asian; 25.3% Multiracial; 22.9% White; 10.8% Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders; 9.5% Hispanic and Latinos of any race; 1.6% Black or African American; 1.8% from some other race; and 0.3% Native American and Alaskan Native.
2020: Report on Plastic Pollution
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 as Easiest State to Vote In
In a 2020 study, Hawaii was ranked as the 6th easiest state for citizens to vote in.
January 2022: Proposal for New 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.
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 in Hawaii as Senator.
2022: Hawaii Ranked as Heavily Democratic State
The 2022 Cook Partisan Voting Index ranks Hawaii as the third-most heavily Democratic state in the nation.
2023: Hawaii Congressional Seats Held by Democrats
As of 2023, all four of Hawaii's seats in the United States Congress are held by Democrats.
2023: Skyline Rail Line Opens Portion for Service
In 2023, a portion of Skyline, an elevated passenger rail line in Honolulu, opened for service.
2024: Mazie Hirono Wins Election for Senator
In 2024, Mazie Hirono won election for Senator in Hawaii.
October 2025: Skyline Rail Line Next Phase Expected to Open
The next phase of the Skyline elevated passenger rail line is expected to open in October 2025.
2031: Skyline Rail Line Final Phase
The final phase of the Skyline elevated passenger rail line is scheduled to open in 2031.
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