Hawaii
History
The state of Hawaii has a broad history. Hawaii’s history starts with the Polynesian people that have lived on islands for thousands of years. Explorers arrived in Hawaii mainly because they were on the search for the Northwest Passage. Throughout the years, Hawaii has been involved in several events including: World War Two, the Great Depression, and many natural disasters.
First People
The first people to ever discover Hawaii were the Polynesians. They lived for thousands of years on islands across the South Pacific. They arrived in the third or fourth century AD. Each person was born into a class and remained in that class for the rest of their life. Most people belonged to the class known as Maka’ainana. Those people were farmers, fishers, or craftspeople. The women and girls had much work to do. Their job was to make fabric and to sew. They made cloth called kapa that was made from the inner bark of trees called wauke. Kapa was sometimes painted in vivid colors. Native Hawaiian boys farmed, fished, and fought. They sailed out in the ocean in canoes and carved fish hooks from bone. The cooking work was for the men. They cooked in an open pit called an imu. Before they cooked any food, they would rap it in banana leaves.
Explorers & Settlers
The first explorer to reach Hawaii was Captain James Cook. He and his crew were on the search for the Northwest Passage which was supposed to be North in the Arctic. England sent him on this expedition, but then he found the Hawaiian islands, in 1778. James Cook explored parts of Kaua’i and Ni’ihau. He came back, in 1779, and explored Hawaii. That was not a success due to how it affected the Polynesians. Some of the Polynesians got in a scuffle with Captain James Cook and a few of his members. He was killed along with nine members of his crew.
The first people to truly settle in Hawaii were the foreigners. They arrived around the year 1790. They probably came from Britain or France. The United States, France, and Britain all wanted to claim parts of the islands of their own. When the foreigners settled in Hawaii, they wanted to set up trading stations and colonies. In the year 1900, Hawaii became part of United States territory. Since Hawaii became part of United States territory some Hawaiians wanted Hawaii to become a state. Finally, Hawaii became a state in 1959 and is the 50th state.
The Great
Depression
The Great Depression hit Hawaii very hard. Factories closed, farm prices dropped, and millions of people lost their jobs. Ten percent of the workforce was unemployed in Honolulu. Pineapple and sugar prices fell. In 1933, around 10,000 Filipino labradors had been sent back to their homeland. By the late 1930s, the Great Depression started to wear off.
World War
Two
On December 7th 1941, the people in Pearl Harbor heard planes overhead. They thought the United States aircraft were practicing their maneuvers. A radio announcer stated that Pearl Harbor was currently being bombed by the Japanese. The bombing destroyed twenty-one naval vessels, or about one third of the United States fleet. On December 8th 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt declared war on the Japanese.
Natural
Disasters
Many natural disasters have affected Hawaii even before the Polynesians arrived. Fifty tsunamis have hit Hawaii since the 1800s. Many earthquakes have triggered the tsunamis. Some of Hawaii’s earthquakes have had to do with something from the volcanoes. On April 2nd, 1868, an earthquake destroyed 100 homes and killed eighty one people. The worst tsunami record hit Hawaii on April, 1st 1946. One hundred seventy people were killed in the towns of Hilo and Laupahoehoe.
Executive
The governor appoints the head of the state departments. Governors also appoint judges and other officials. The most recent governor’s name is David Inge.
Legislature
Legislature contains of a twenty five member Senate, and the house of representatives contains fifty-one members.
Courts
The highest appeals court in Hawaii is the Supreme Court. There is also the Intermediate Court of Appeals. Other courts include four district courts, four circuit courts, family courts, and land tax appeal courts.
Local Government
Hawaii has four counties that are governed by mayors and elected city councils. All of Hawaii’s populated places are governed as part of the country.
Hawaii’s government plays a major role in Hawaii’s history by protecting the local people.
Conclusion
For many years people have greatly enjoyed the islands of Hawaii. The Polynesians fished and sewed. The explorers that had arrived at Hawaii came on accident due to finding the Northwest Passage. Hawaii is known for many of the events such as World War Two, the Great Depression, and many natural disasters. For multiple more years to come, Hawaii will continue to attract many more people and tourists to this state.
Hawaii State
Flag Description
In the corner of Hawaii’s State flag there is the original British flag; the rest of the flag contains eight red, white, and blue stripes. The flag was adopted in 1959. The eight stripes of red, white, and blue symbolise the eight islands of Hawaii
The British flag is on the Hawaii State flag because some of King Kamehameha 1’s advisors were British.
Hawaii State
Seal Description
On the left side of the Hawaii State Seal is what looks like a Hawaiian leader. On the right side looks like a woman holding the Hawaii State flag. In the center is what seems to be a symbol with red, white, and blue stripes in opposite corners, and in the other opposite corners is a yellow background with a pole containing a white dot. The Seal actually showed two warriors; the warrior to the left of the seal was King Kamehameha 1. The warrior to the right of the seal was the Goddess of Liberty who held the Hawaiian flag. In the center of the seal was a shield with a star in the center representing the star on the American flag. The state motto printed on the seal, “Ua mau ke ea o ka aina i ka pono” mean “ The life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness.”
