DK Travel : Honolulu & O’ahu : History & Culture

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The Overthrow of the Hawaiian Monarchy

On January 17, 1893, Hawai’i’s last queen, Lili’uokalani, was removed from her throne and placed under house arrest in ’Iolani Palace. The coup was the work of American businessmen based in Hawai’i, though it was not supported by U.S. President Grover Cleveland, a Democrat. He was unable to persuade the provisional government, led by Republican Sanford P. Dole, to restore the monarchy.
The Plantation Era

Beginning in the mid-1800s, the American businessmen who first set up sugar cane production on the Hawaiian islands started importing contract laborers to work the plantations. Chinese workers were followed by Portuguese, Japanese, Latin American, Korean, and Filipino immigrants. The immigration of those groups led to the diverse ethnic mix found in the islands today.
Tourism

They came first by ship and then by airplane, and by the late 1950s tourists were coming in increasing numbers, seeking the warmth and exotic beauty of Hawai’i, a place within easy reach of the West Coast of the U.S. mainland. Today, the islands host more than seven million visitors each year, arriving from every corner of the globe.
U.S. Army Museum

It’s been called “Waikīkī’s best-kept secret” – a well-designed free museum celebrating the U.S. Army’s many-faceted history in the Pacific. It covers Hawai’i’s “Go for Broke” 100th Infantry Battalion, Waikīkī as a Vietnam War R & R center, and more.
Urasenke Teahouse

Teaching Cha-do, the Way of Tea, a ceremony meant to both relax and focus the mind, is the mission of this center endowed by the Urasenke Organization in Kyoto. Tea ceremonies are held Wednesdays and Thursdays at 10am; wear comfortable clothes but not shorts.
Waikīkī Beach

This unassuming strip of white sand covered with half-clothed bodies, surfboard racks, and gawking tourists is what the beach is all about. You might think only visitors use it, but you’ll see surfers, daily exercisers, canoe clubs, and other locals enjoying Hawai’i’s best-known beach, too. Dawn and dusk are ideal times to visit.
Weaving

Traditionally, women are the weavers in Hawai’i, and many of the old everyday objects they created from lau hala (leaves of the pandanus tree) and the minutely thin makaloa (sedge grass) are considered works of art today. Lau hala mats, hats, and handbags are easily found in craft shops, but makaloa is now something of a rarity.
Western Contact

The landing of British explorer Captain James Cook at Kealakekua Bay on the island of Hawai’i in 1778 is generally acknowledged to be the first time Hawaiians had contact with westerners. There is evidence that Spanish ships sailed into island waters in the 16th century, but there are no records of any contact being made with the islanders.
Wili

Plant materials are attached to a natural backing by winding fiber around them. Wili lei have no knots until the very end.
’Ukulele Making

A Portuguese import of the late 19th century, the ’ukulele quickly found its place in Hawaiian music. ’Ukulele making is still a respected art in Hawai’i, and companies like Kamaka on O’ahu and Mele ’Ukulele on Maui produce high-quality, handcrafted instruments.