Kauai Information > Kauai History

Imagine a time 500-800A.D. when a group of people living on an island felt life was so unbearable that they set out on wild seas in a floating object constructed from surrounding natural components in search of a new land. Columbus, move over.

For five hundred years these first immigrants lived peacefully. Eventually, interaction between the Hawaiian and Polynesian Islands began and others followed. In the 12th century the Tahitians invaded. Oral tradition tells of a Tahitian priest who told that the mana or power of the Hawaiian chiefs was low, indicating that their gods were weak. The dominating Tahitians implemented the kapu system.

These Tahitians were said to be large while at least one native tribe was short. Evidence shows that this tribe, the Menehune, inhabited only Kauai and none of the other Hawaiian islands. The Menehune were known to be a short, broad muscular people. Many myths persist concerning the Menehune. They were credited with building many temples, roads and other structures. The legend of the Menehune is just one of countless legends, chants, and mele (songs) that recount the enchanting history of Kauai.

The ancient Hawaiians' lives were greatly influenced by mana, the spiritual power of the elements and gods who could take human, animal or divine form. In several locations, the ruins of sacred heiau (worship sites) remind us of the native Hawaiians who built these stone platforms, walls and other wooden structures. Although the old religious beliefs and practices are not clearly understood, the mana of Kauai's natural elements continues to create a magnetic attraction felt by many even today. You will find Kauai to possess a spirit that travels from the land to the people and among people.

About 500 years later, enter the white man. Captain James Cook sighted O’ahu on 1/18/1778 and on 1/20/1778 stepped ashore at Waimea. Back on the home front of Hawaii, a leader, Kamehameha begins uniting the Hawaiian Islands into one kingdom. Kauai's chief was able to maintain his independence from Kamehameha's rule until 1810. During Kamehameha’s rule the ancient Kupu system ruled the lives of the Hawaiian people.

When Kamehameha died, so did the ancient Kipu system. This ancient structure, although cruel, provided rules and structure. Again, Hawaii was vulnerable and was invaded by the missionaries coming to save souls, the whalers looking for a good time, and the traders and planters looking for profit. Russia, Great Britain, France and the United States all had an interest in Hawaii.
Congregational missionaries settled on Kauai a few decades later, and in 1835, the first sugar plantation was founded in Koloa. The plantation system changed the economic and social structure. The sugar industry flourished through the labor of immigrants from Asia and Europe, further changing and enriching the cultural life throughout Hawaii. Asian and European culture merged with Hawaiian.

Beginning in the 1870’s, Leprosy spread throughout Hawaii. Those infected were separated from their families and sent to Moloka’i to the leper colony. A Kauaian named Koolau, contracted Leprosy but refused to be sent to Moloa’i. He took his family and lived in the mountains of Na Pali. He killed all who came after him.

In 1893, Hawaii's Queen Liliuokalani was overthrown by a group of Americans, thus thrusting the islands toward statehood. While still a territory of the United States, the attack at Pearl Harbor, with the tremendous death toll of both the Americans and the Hawaiians brought the two societies closer together. On August 21, 1959, Hawaii became the 50th state of the United States.

Eventually, labor expenses caused the production of sugar to become unprofitable. Jumbo jets were invented and tourism flourished. Although coffee and fruits are grown, tourism is the major industry.