Oahu Hawaii History

It is unknown exactly when Polynesian migrants settled on Oahu Island in the Hawaiian archipelago. From oral histories, it appears Honolulu could have been established in the 12th century. Hawaii’s royal family reigned for over 500 years before foreigners arrived in 1794, Captain William Brown of England being the first. Thereafter Honolulu became a major seaport for merchant ships traveling between America and Asia. King Kamehameha moved his court from the Island of Hawaii to Waikiki and Honolulu in 1804. The main crops were taro, sweet potato and banana; the native diet was rich with shellfish. The island became a major commerce center and the people’s way of life was changed with European explorers, whaling ships and the influence of Protestant missionaries who settled in 1820. During the late 19th century and early 20th century, the Hawaiian monarchy was overthrown. Annexation of Hawaii by the United States and WWII with the Japaneese brought both great commercial industries and a tourism boom. Waikiki and Honolulu remain metropolitan centers with millions of visitors annually.