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History of Hawaii
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The earliest habitation supported by archaeological evidence dates to the 4th century, probably by Polynesian settlers from the Marquesas, followed by a second wave of migration from Raiatea and Bora Bora in the 11th century.
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The history of Hawaii includes phases of early Polynesian settlement, British discovery, Euro-American and Asian immigration, the overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy, a brief period of existing as a Republic, and admission to the United States as a territory and then a state.
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The earliest settlements supported by current scientific data were made by Polynesians who traveled to Hawaii using large double-hulled canoes. They brought with them pigs, dogs, chickens, taro, sweet potatoes, coconut, banana, sugarcane, and much more. The precise timing and mode theory is preferred among some archaeologists as it appears to fit the archaeological record better. Note, however, that "one-migration" does not imply a single settlement voyage, but merely a single, continuous settlement period. Other theories of the first inhabitants (such as that of the sunken continent of Mu or the presence of earlier people of unknown origin, such as the menehune) exist, but are not supported by any known scientific data. The hypothetical date that anthropologists ascribe to the first Polynesian arrivals has changed as new discoveries are made; also, there is yet-unexplained evidence of contact with the Americas and other lands that complicates the accepted anthropological timeline.
European ships began to explore the Pacific Ocean in the 16th century, with Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch, and English sailing vessels eventually making voyages. On January 18, 1778 Captain James Cook and his crew, while attempting to discover the fabled Northwest Passage between Alaska and Asia, were surprised to find the Hawaiian islands so far north in the Pacific. He named them the Sandwich Islands, after the First Lord of the Admiralty, the 4th Earl of Sandwich, John Montagu. After the discovery by Cook, other Europeans and Americans came to the Sandwich Islands.
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Hawaii was united under a single ruler, Kamehameha I, for the first time in 1810. Until 1816, the chiefs of the various islands considered themselves under British protection and flew the Union Jack. The monarchy then adopted a flag similar to the one used today by the State of Hawaii present flag, with the Union Jack in the canton and eight horizontal stripes, representing the eight major islands of Hawaii.
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Until annexation in 1898, Hawaii was an independent sovereign state, recognized by the United States, Great Britain, France and Germany with exchange of ambassadors. However, there were several challenges to the reigning governments of Hawaii during the Kingdom and Republic periods.
President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed a bill on March 18, 1959 which allowed for Hawaiian statehood. Hawaii formally became the 50th state of the Union on August 21, 1959 after a vote of over 94% in favor of statehood.
The Democratic Party became a dominant force in state politics shortly after World War II. Democrats have held a majority in both houses of the state legislature since statehood, and held the governorship for 40 years, from 1962 to 2002.
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