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1778 - Captain James Cook Arrives in Hawaii 

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1778 - Captain James Cook Arrives in Hawaii 

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James Cook, a British explorer was the first European to lay eyes on the Hawaiian Islands and come into contact with its people. The Kingdom of Hawaii was later established in 1795 under King Kamehameha I, with the help of Cook and European technology. This was the first time the Hawaiian Islands had been unified politically. Here's a link to a Crash Course video explaining how Cook was able to accomplish this, and how the Hawaiian people viewed their new visitor.

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Christian missionaries begin to take residence in the Hawaiian Islands. Most were from Boston/New England and many entered the business of sugar planting, while some took on political roles as advisors to the king.

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September 2, 1838 - Birth of Queen Lili'uokalani

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September 2, 1838 - Birth of Queen Lili'uokalani

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Lili'uokalani was the last sovereign leader of the Hawaiian kingdom. She was born in Honolulu, on the island of Oahu and spent her life ruling her Hawaiian people, and fought hard to try to keep Hawaii independent. Here's a link to a more comprehensive biography of Lili'uokalani

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February 6, 1842 - U.S. Letter to Hawaiian Representatives

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February 6, 1842 - U.S. Letter to Hawaiian Representatives

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Then Secretary of State, Daniel Webster, wrote a letter directed towards the Hawaiian representatives of the territory, voicing his opposition to the annexation of Hawaii, by any nation other than the United States. He expressed a deep interest in acquiring the island kingdom for America.

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December 20, 1849 - Treaty of Friendship Signed

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December 20, 1849 - Treaty of Friendship Signed

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This document, crafted a half-century before Hawaii's annexation as a territory, was signed in Washington D.C. on this date. It served as a written foundation of the United States and Hawaii's status as allies. Here's a link to the full document.

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January 20, 1891 - Death of King Kalakaua

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January 20, 1891 - Death of King Kalakaua

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Kalakaua was the final king, and penultimate leader of sovereign Hawaii, and upon his death, his sister Lili'uokalani assumed the throne, with the coronation following days later. He was known for his genial personality and publicization of the hula.

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January 14, 1893 - New Hawaiian Constitution Drafted

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January 14, 1893 - New Hawaiian Constitution Drafted

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With more American interests in and on the islands with every passing day, Queen Lili'uokalani sought to restore the historic power of the throne and attempted to grant her Hawaiian citizens the right to vote. The constitution however, was never ratified and remained stuck in the drafting stage.

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January 17, 1893 - Queen Lili'uokalani De-Throned

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January 17, 1893 - Queen Lili'uokalani De-Throned

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Americans, led by a combination of U.S. Marines and wealthy businessmen invested in the sugar and pineapple industries, illegally overthrew the Hawaiian government. This led to Queen Lili'uokalani's letter pleading to the U.S. House of Representatives for the restoration of her government, but this letter was all but ignored. Here's a video that summarizes the coup and Lili'uokalani's resistance to annexation.

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December 18, 1893 - Formal Apology from Pres. Cleveland

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December 18, 1893 - Formal Apology from Pres. Cleveland

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In the immediate aftermath of the Hawaiian coup, President Grover Cleveland investigated the ethics of the coup and fired John L. Stevens, the Minister to the Hawaiian Kingdom. He offered an earnest apology to Queen Lili'uokalani and refused to allow the official annexation of the islands.

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July 7, 1898 - Formal Annexation of Hawaii

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July 7, 1898 - Formal Annexation of Hawaii

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The official U.S. annexation of Hawaii, nicknamed the "Newlands Resolution" passed Congress, and was later signed into law by Pres. McKinley on this date. Sanford Dole, a man heavily responsible for the overthrow of the Queen Lili'uokalani, became the first Governor of the Territory. Here's a link to a biography of Dole that explains his complicated relationship with Hawaii in greater detail.

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Hawaii, alongside Alaska, was granted statehood on this date under President Dwight Eisenhower. Some Native Hawaiians wanted this decades earlier, whereas some would have preferred independence, with sovereignty movements still going on today. Here's a link to an archived news report welcoming America's newest state.