500 A. D., ca.--Hawaii discovered by Hawaii-loa, Polynesian
fisherman-navigator who, tradition says, came from Kahiki
(Tahiti?), an island to the south. He made several round trips,
bringing with him a large company of retainers.
1100 ca.--After a wave of navigation, intercourse with Tahiti ended.
1300 ca.--According to an ancient chant, _mele_, Kalaunuiohua, _moi_ of
Hawaii, conquered Maui. _Moi_, in 19th century Hawaiian, signifies
the supreme ruler or head chief, now usually termed _king_.
1500--Piilani, king of Maui. He was succeeded by Lonoapii who in turn
was overthrown by his brother Kihapiilani and his brother-in-law,
King Umi of the Big Island. Bloody battles stretched from Kauiki
to the sands of Waihee.
1555--Possible discovery of Hawaii by Juan Gaetano, Spanish navigator.
He prepared a manuscript chart now in the Spanish archives which
contains a group of islands in the latitude of Hawaii but whose
longitude is 10 degrees too far to the east. What corresponds to
Maui is called _La Desgradiada_, the unfortunate. The largest,
most southerly island, which should be the present Hawaii is
labelled _La Mesa_, the table. Three other islands, appearing to
be Kahoolawe, Lanai, and Molokai, are called _Los Monjes_, the
monks.
1736--King Kekaulike died and was succeeded by Kamehamehanui.
1737--Alapainui, _moi_ of Hawaii, invaded Maui via Kaupo. He took with
him two young princely half-brothers, Kalaniopuu and Keoua. Keoua
was father of Kamehameha I. Since Alapainui found his adversary,
Kekaulike, dead, he made peace with the nephew, Kamehamehanui. The
two joined forces to repel the invader, Kapiiohokalani of Oahu, in
bloody, obstinate battles that ended in the rout of the Oahu army
at Kawela, Molokai.
1738--At Keawawa, West Maui, Alapanainui and Kamehamehanui decisively
defeated Kauhi, the latter's brother and usurper of power.
1750 ca.--The calculated date of the most recent activity of Haleakala,
the Keoneoio flow above La Perouse Bay. The flow originated at
Kaluaolapa at an elevation of 575 feet, and from vents one mile
further northeast at an elevation of 1,550 feet. The method of
dating is interesting. In 1841, Rev. Edward Bailey of Wailuku
inquired about the eruption and was informed by Hawaiians that it
happened at the time of their grandfathers. In 1906, Lorrin A.
Thurston was told by a Chinese-Hawaiian cowboy, Charles Ako, that
his father-in-law's grandfather at the time of the event was just
old enough to carry "two" coconuts 4 or 5 miles from the sea to
the upper road at an elevation of 2,000 feet. Since Hawaiians
counted coconuts by fours, "two" probably refers to a total of
eight nuts. Mr. Bailey was told that a woman and child were
trapped by the flow but escaped after it cooled. By 1922, 80 years
later, this tale had grown into a neo-myth about a husband and
wife with their two children. The mother and her young daughter
fled _mauka_, but were seized by Pele, and turned into the two
lava columns that stand beside the vent at Kaluaolapa. The father
and son, plunged into the sea and started swimming toward
Kahoolawe. Pele cast rocks after them and turned the two to stone.
The two rocks, a big and a little one, can be seen today rising
out of the sea several hundred feet out from shore as proof of the
tale. Mr. Thurston's estimate of the date of the eruption is 1750
while J. F. G. Stokes, Hawaiian ethnologist, favors a later date,
possibly 1770.
1754--Kalaniopuu, warlike king of Hawaii, captured the fortress Kauiki
and held it successfully for more than 20 years.
1765--Kamehamehanui died and was succeeded by his brother, Kahekili.
1768--Queen Kaahumanu was born at Kauiki. She became the favorite wife
of Kamehameha I.
1775--Kalaniopuu was defeated by Kahekili at Kaupo.
1776--Kalaniopuu invaded Maui at Maalaea; his army was annihilated on
the sand hills near Wailuku.
1777--Kalaniopuu took Lanai but again was repelled when he tried to
invade Maui.
1778, November 26--Captain James Cook, Royal British Navy, discovered
Maui.
1781--Kahekili reconquered East Maui. He recaptured the fort at Kauiki
by cutting off the water supply. To show contempt, he baked the
bodies of the defenders in earth ovens.
1786--Kamehameha I sent an expedition to recapture East Maui. It was
defeated at Kipahulu by Kalanikapule, the son of King Kahekili.
1786, May 28--La Perouse visited Maui and camped on Keoneoio lava flow.
1790--Olowalu massacre. The snow, _Eleanor_, under Captain Simon
Metcalf, treacherously opened fire on native boats following a
truce made after one white sailor had been murdered. More than a
hundred natives were slaughtered.
1790--Conquest of Maui by Kamehameha I after landing at Hana. He
decisively defeated Kalanikapule, in the Battle of Iao Valley or
Kepaniwai.
1793--Vancouver visited Maui on his second expedition. He tried to bring
about an end to the wars and to establish a lasting peace between
Maui and Hawaii.
1795--Maui was subdued by Kamehameha I without a battle.
1819--Kamehameha I, king of all Hawaii, died. Abolition of the _kapu_
system by Kamehameha II, incited by his guardian, Queen Kaahumanu.
1823--The Christian mission at Lahaina was founded by Rev. William
Richards and A. S. Stewart. On September 16, Queen Keopuolani, a
wife of Kamehameha I and a devout Christian, died at Lahaina. She
was buried with services by Rev. William Ellis.
1824--At Lahaina, Queen Regent Kaahumanu orally proclaimed a law
forbidding desecration of the Sabbath, fighting, murder, and
theft.
1825--The English frigate _The Blonde_ anchored off Lahaina with the
bodies of King Liholiho (Kamehameha II) and his queen, Kamamalu.
They had died from measles while on a visit to London.
1825--The crew from the Whaler _Daniel_ attempted to demolish the home
of Rev. Richards, Lahaina.
[Illustration: Sliding Sands Trail.]
1826--Mosquitoes from Mexico were introduced at Lahaina by the SS
_Wellington_.
1827--The Whaler _John Palmer_ fired on the home of Rev. Richards.
1829--Ascent of Haleakala by a missionary party.
1834--First Hawaiian newspaper _Lama Hawaii_ was published at
Lahainaluna Mission School.
1839--An Hawaiian "Bill of Rights" was signed at Lahaina by Kamehameha
III. It afforded protection to all people and their property while
they conformed to the laws of the kingdom.
1841--Haleakala Crater was visited by Pickering and Breckenridge of the
United States Exploring Expedition under Captain John Wilkes, U.
S. Navy.
1841-1849--Peak of whaling industry in Hawaii. Lahaina was visited by
596 Whalers in 1846.
1850--David Malo, Hawaiian antiquarian and teacher at Lahainaluna
School, Lahaina, conducted Rev. William P. Alexander and Curtis
Lyons from Kaupo through Haleakala Crater, to Makawao, "a trip
never before undertaken by white men."
1876--S. F. Alexander and H. P. Baldwin started construction of the
Hamakua Ditch, first big irrigation project in Hawaii.
1890--First pineapples were planted at Haiku.
1893--Overthrow of the monarchy and establishment of the Republic of
Hawaii. Queen Liliuokalani was the last reigning sovereign.
1898, August 12--Hawaii was annexed to United States by joint
legislation of Congress. President Dole was appointed first
governor.
1916--Hawaii National Park was established by Act of Congress on August
1 with Haleakala Crater forming the Section on Maui.
1921--Hawaii National Park was formally opened.
1929, November 11--Establishment of commercial air service between the
islands.
1930--First permanent park position (ranger) was established to give
continuous service at Haleakala.
1931--First permanent park naturalist was appointed for Hawaii National
Park, although temporary, summer interpretive services were
started in the late twenties by the employment of Otto Degener,
formerly botanist at the University of Hawaii. Dr. Degener,
presently writing Book 6 of his "_Flora Hawaiiensis_," kindly
supplied many of the scientific plant names for this guide.
1935 February 23--Dedication ceremonies of Haleakala Road in Hawaii
National Park.
1937--Kapalaoa, Paliku, and Holua cabins were constructed.
1941--Haleakala closed to travel for military reasons.
1952-3--Present exhibits were installed in Summit Observation Station.
1958--Permanent naturalist position established for Haleakala.
1959--Hawaii becomes the 50th state in the Union.