The first non-Polynesians saw the Hawaiian Islands on January 18, 1778. Two large ships headed toward Kaua`i. British Captain James Cook led them.
The sailors stopped for supplies and got a warm aloha welcome. Cook came back for a second visit. But this time, fighting broke out between Hawaiians and his men. The captain was clubbed to death. And now Hawai`i was on the map. The islands became a popular stop for trade ships sailing between America and Asia. Several nations thought Hawai`i would be good to own. Its tropical location and long growing season made it valuable. The greed of outsiders would one day rob the Hawaiians of their land. But first, western diseases took a huge toll. The Hawaiians had no resistance. When Cook arrived, there were about 300,000 Hawaiians. By 1853, there were fewer than 70,000.
