300 – 750 A.D.                      Polynesians arrive by outrigger canoe from Tahiti          

1778 ~                                    British explorer Captain James Cook discovers the Hawaiian Islands and names them Sandwich Islands after Britian’s Earl of Sandwich.

1779 ~                                    Captain Cook is killed in a Big Island dispute at Kealakekua Bay, near Kona.

1789 ~                                    The first Chinese arrive after jumping off a trading ship.

1810 ~                                     King Kamehameha the Great unites all the Hawaiian islands into one kingdom.

1813 ~                                     The first pineapple plants are introduced from Spain.

1816 ~                                     First Hawaiian flag is sewn.

1817 ~                                     Coffee is first planted.

1819 ~                                     King Kamehameha the Great dies. Prince Liholiho ascends the throne as Kamehameha II (1819-1824). He also abandons the ancient taboo of eating with women.

1820 ~                                    First American Protestant missionaries arrive from New England.

1825 – 1854                           The reign of King Kamehameha III.

1840~                                     The first Hawaii constitution of the kingdom was established.

1848 ~                                    The Great Mahele is signed by King Kamehameha III which allows commoners and haoles to own land outright or in “fee simple,” a concept that continues today.

1850 ~                                    On August 31, King Kamehameha III declares Honolulu a

city.

1874 – 1891                            The reign of King David Kalakaua.

1882 ~                                    America’s only royal residence, Iolani Palace is built on Oahu.

1883 ~                                    Mutual Telephone Company was started in Hawaii. The name was later changed to Hawaiian Telephone and then changed again to GTE Hawaiian Tel.

1885 ~                                    The first contract laborers from Japan arrive to work on the sugar cane plantations.

1892 ~                                    Macadamia nut trees are first planted.

1893 ~                                    Queen Liliuokalani surrenders the kingdom to the United States under protest.

1895 ~                                    Queen Liliuokalani abdicates her throne.

1898 ~                                    Hawaii is annexed to the United States.

1900 ~                                    Hawaii becomes a United States territory. The Great Chinatown fire leaves 7000 people homeless in Honolulu.

1922 ~                                    Prince Jonah Kalanianaole Kuhio dies. He was the last powerful member of the royal Hawaiian family.

1927                                       First non-stop air flight from the mainland to Honolulu.

1934                                       President Franklin Deleno Roosevelt arrives July 26 on the cruiser Houston. He is the first United States president to visit Hawaii.

1935                                       Pan American Airways “China Clipper” inaugurates air mail service to Hawaii and the Pacific.

1941                                        December 7th, Japanese bomb Pearl Harbor. The U.S. enters World War II. Martial law is imposed in Hawaii until October 24, 1944.

1946                                       A killer “tsunami” (tidal wave) hits Hilo on the island of Hawaii.

1948                                       A record 41,964 persons visit Hawaii. Miss Yun Tau Zane wins the first Miss Hawaii crown.

1952                                       Hawaii’s first television station begins broadcasting.

1953                                       Waikiki Beach sees its first bikinis.

1959                                       Hawaii becomes the 50th state. Ala Moana Shopping Center is built. The first jet arrives. The age of tourism begins.

1966                                       Hawaii receives its first live television program from the mainland, Notre Dame vs. Michigan State in football.

1969                                       Jack (”Book ‘em Danno”) Lord begins “Hawaii Five-O” television series.

1974 – 1987                           The first Asian-American governor (George Ariyoshi) is elected.

1976                                       Hokule’a” a Hawaiian double-hulled canoe, reenacts Polynesian discovery voyage of Hawaii.

1980                                       Tom Selleck begins “Magnum P.I.” television series.

1983                                       Kilauea volcano erupts on the Big Island. It is still erupting today.

1986                                       The Concorde jet lands in Honolulu.

1987                                       John Waihee, the first governor of Hawaiian descent is elected.

1989                                       The Moana Hotel, built in 1901, reopens fully restored as a National Historical landmark.

1991                                        Miss Hawaii, Carolyn Sapp, becomes the state’s first Miss America.

1992                                       Hurricane Iniki ravages the island of Kauai and the western shores of the island of Oahu.

1994                                       Ben Cayetano becomes the first governor of Philippine descent ever elected in the United States.

1995                                       The last sugar plantation on the Big Island (the island of Hawaii) closes.

Near Future                You arrive at Honolulu International Airport for a visit

  

  

The History of the Lei

 

 The custom of the flower lei was introduced to Hawaii from the various surrounding Polynesian islands and even Asia. In ancient Hawaii, wearing a lei represented wealth, royalty, and rank. Leis were also heavily associated with hula, religion, and geography.

The state of Hawaii is consists of eight major islands. Each island has its own designated lei which represents a harmonious marriage of texture and color. Most of these leis are unavailable for shipping to the mainland due to strict agricultural laws.

  • Hawaii – Lehua
  • Oahu – Ilima
  • Maui – Lokelani
  • Kauai – Mokihana
  • Molokai – Kukui                                                             
  • Lanai – Kaunaoa
  • Niihau – Pupu
  • Kaho’olawe – Hinahina

May 1st is Hawaii’s official “Lei Day.” Hawaiians call it “May Day.” The flower lei is celebrated on May Day with Hula, parades, and music. On May Day, most parents request to take a day off of work so they can watch their children participate in May Day festivities and programs at school. Everyone in Hawaii is encouraged to wear a lei on May Day.

Lei Etiquette
Leis can be worn, received, or given for almost any occasion. In Hawaii, a lei is given for an office promotion, a birthday, an anniversary, a graduation, or any special event. Yet more notably, a lei can be worn for no other reason than to enjoy the fragrance, take pleasure in the beautiful flowers, or simply, to celebrate the “Aloha Spirit.”

There is one big faux pas that should never be made. Never refuse a lei! Always graciously accept the lei with a smile and a kiss on the cheek. (If you don’t feel comfortable with giving or receiving a kiss on the cheek, a warm hug is acceptable!) If you are allergic or sensitive to flowers, then discreetly and apologetically slip-off the lei. It is acceptable and considered a kind gesture to offer the lei to your spouse if you are unable to wear it.

Last, but not least, there is one more taboo…it is considered (in Hawaii) impolite to give a closed (tied) lei to a pregnant woman. Many Hawaiians feel that a closed lei around the neck is bad luck for the unborn child. (Head Hakus and open-ended leis are acceptable to give to pregnant woman.)

Would you like to order, Hawaiian Leis / Tropical Flowers / Gift Baskets / Other Hawaiian Gifts online?  Then just click on the link, http://www.remotecart.com/affiliate/aliiflowers/click.cgi?hulagirls. They will ship Your fresh tropical flowers or lei flowers which are picked fresh, washed and inspected. They are then carefully wrapped in ti leaves, florist wrap, newspaper, insulation (if needed) and sealed in a Tropical Flowers box. This is a long box specifically designed for shipping tropical flowers. The box has handling instructions on the outside to alert the courier as to the urgent and special care needed for the package.  They use FedEx to deliver your order direct from their farm to your doorstep.

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