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Oahu, Hawaii is the most populated of the Hawaiian islands and home of the state capital. Most senior tourists visit Oahu when vacationing in Hawaii.

Oahu HI History

Oahu was first settled in 1100 A.D. In 1778, rival royal chiefs fought each other for complete control of the Hawaiian Islands. Oahu was the last to fall to Kamehameha I after he defeated Oahu's ruler (possibly his half brother) Kalanikupule in an epic battle. King Kamehameha I moved his court from Hawaii Island to Oahu in 1804.

Captain Clerke was the first European to visit Oahu in 1778. Honolulu later became the most important shipping point in Hawaii. A group of missionaries who arrived from New England in 1820 had a large influence on the royal family. In 1850, Kamehameha III proclaimed Honolulu the capital city of his kingdom.

As whaling declined, sugar plantations grew. Hawaii was the main sugar supplier to the U.S. during the Civil War. In 1891, a group of American businessmen seized control of Hawaii from Queen Liliuokalani and declared it their own republic. Native Hawaiians never regained power and in 1898, the U.S. formally annexed Hawaii. U.S. Military installations on Oahu were important strategically and economically. On December 7, 1941, Japan led a devastating attack against the U.S. Navy at Pearl Harbor.

Oahu Hawaii – Historic Tropical Paradise Island

Today, Oahu is the most recognized island in Hawaii. It is a favorite destination for senior tourists seeking to vacation in a tropical paradise full of the rich cultural history of the Hawaiian people.