Hawaii was first called the Sandwich Islands — after the same earl as the sandwich.

1778 · 1779 · apart: 1 year

In 1778 Cook named them for the First Lord of the Admiralty, the Earl of Sandwich.

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The event

• Death of James Cook1779 · Kealakekua Bay, island of Hawaiʻi. In January 1779 Cook's ships entered Kealakekua Bay, where they were received with honours during the Makahiki festival. Returning weeks later with a broken mast, the British quarrelled with the Hawaiians; on 14 February Cook tried to take the paramount chief Kalaniʻōpuʻu hostage over a stolen boat and was killed on the shore with four marines. His third voyage opened Hawaii to Europe.

18th century

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