History of Oahu
History is by no means infallible, so it is not surprising that the history of Oahu begins with ambiguity. It is not certain who the first colonisers of the Hawaiian Islanders were, but it is believed that they included Marquesas Islanders and Tahitians, who dwelled permanently on the Islands from about 200AD. The Polynesian culture has been deeply entrenched in the Hawaiian way of life.
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In the 12th century, animism became common practice when a powerful Kahuna (priest) introduced human sacrifices and a system of taboos that lead to the deity-like conception of local royals.
Officially, the first European to encounter Hawaii was James Cook. He was initially mistaken for the god of harvests, however, this good fortune did not last and he was killed on the Big Island a year later over a dispute with a tribesman. Cook never actually ever landed on Oahu, and only after his death did one of his ships, the Resolution, put in at Waimea Bay for fresh supplies. The new captain describes Oahu as ".the most beautiful country we have yet seen among the Isles."
Around the time of Cook's death, there was also trouble within the royal family. Rival chiefs were fighting each other for complete control of the Hawaiian Islands. Oahu was the last to fall to Kamehameha the Great after he defeated Oahu's then ruler (and by some accounts his half brother) Kalanikupule in an epic battle at Nu'uanu Valley. After his victory, Kamehameha moved from Maui to the flourishing village of Honolulu, which quickly became the economic and political center of Hawaii.
According to the recorded history of Oahu, it was in the 1820's the first bars and brothels opened in Honolulu for the patronage of crews from passing whaling ships. Tension arose between the sailors and the newly arrived missionaries when they confronted the crews with their preaching. As whaling slowly began to decline, sugar plantations grew. This hurtled Hawaii into an economic boom as they supplied sugar to the US during the Civil War. In 1891 a group of American businessmen seized control of Hawaii from Queen Liliuokalani and declared it their own republic. Despite voiced disapproval from US president Grover, power was never restored to the native Hawaiians and in 1898 Hawaii was formally annexed by the USA .
By the beginning of the 20th century, as a result of diseases, the number of native Hawaiians was down to 50 000. An extra 70 000 Japanese immigrants were brought in as labor for the sugar plantations. This accounts for the high proportion of Japanese in the current population.
During World War Two Oahu served as the USA's Pacific command post. In 1941 Pearl Harbor was bombed by Japanese warplanes, leading to the death of 2300 US soldiers. This action propelled the US into WWII and demonstrated just how important the Islands had become to the US .
In 1959 Hawaii became the 50th state of the US, after a plebiscite in which 90% of Islanders voted 'yes'. Hawaiian sovereignty has subsequently become a major issue in the decades since statehood.
The other islands of Hawaii - Big Island - Kauai - Lanai - Maui - Molokai - Cruises
Oahu Travel Guide
