Beautiful beaches, palm trees, and the Aloha spirit are all aspects that most natives- and foreigners alike- associate with Hawaii. Those that were born and raised in the islands take pride in the culture and customs that have made the state so prominent in the minds of many.

But, while most enjoy exploring the land and experiencing the traditions of Hawaiian culture, there is a strong lack of understanding in one important piece that I believe should not be overlooked – it's HISTORY!

​

Learning about Hawaii's history makes visiting or living in the islands a much more special experience. The scenery, food, and Aloha spirit are all things that make Hawaii special, but knowing its history further deepens the appreciation for our 50th state.

​

For a little over 20 years, I have read hundreds of books, newspapers, magazines, pamphlets, doctorial theses, and other resources on Hawaiian history and spent countless hours exploring all of the people and events that are significant to Hawaii’s past. My passion has grown beyond just reading and taking notes for personal enjoyment. It has now expanded to traveling to many of these significant areas, some of which are upsettingly hard to find and difficult to access because they are not as highly respected and preserved like other historical sites around the world. This leaves many of Hawaii’s iconic areas unknown to many, neglected, and unmaintained. Paniau Heiau, which once served as a residence of Kamehameha, is an example of this neglect. On the Kona side of the Big Island, Lonoikamakahiki Residence has been partially demolished due to the construction of a tennis court for tourists. Imagine if George Washington’s Mount Vernon was torn down and replaced with a timeshare condo or Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello sold to investors to build a shopping mall. Something like this would never happen to symbolic places of American history. Hawaii’s landmarks deserve that same respect.

 

The deeper my research takes me, the more confused and frustrated I become with the inconsistencies and inaccuracies that are found written by the various authors documenting our history. The reasons for these inaccuracies are many, but I believe with the multitude of resources available today, not available in earlier times, we now have the advantage of writing a more accurate and concise accounting of the history of these islands. This inconsistency and inability to find accurate information has encouraged me to move beyond the information that is easily accessible and to investigate on my own.

 

After years of research, I wanted to create a resource that provides clear and detailed descriptions of historical events in Hawaii’s history. Many of the books on Hawaiian history are expensive, hard to get, or only reference material in libraries. This resource will give readers the opportunity to learn about the historical facts in an easily accessible format.

​

-Clinton Salvador