Although Hawaiian society is much more cosmopolitan than it used to be the native Hawaiians were descended from Polynesian cultures that discovered the islands as far back as 200AD. By 600AD ordered societies had been established with rules of conduct.

These cultures were very family based and settlers were inter-dependent on each other for survival. This established a society of mutual respect and as they deveoped they adopted the family-based 'ohana' social structure with the Ali (chief) system of rule.

By around 1000AD the Tahitians came to Hawaii as the first colonists. By 1400 they had developed elaborate agricultural systems and a new style of colonial rule and religious beliefs. As they were no longer struggling for survival they started struggling amongst themselves for more power and land - chiefs leading tribe against tribe.

Ma’ilikukahi was one such chief, who gained control of Oahu aided by some of his relatives in neighboring districts. Ma’ilikukahi moved his home and seat of power from Ewa to Waikiki. This initiated a period were Waikiki would be the center of power in Hawaii for the next four hundred years.

The Ali (chief) system of rule survived into the 1770s, but then Capt James Cook arrived in the islands and a period of British influence began. Cook named Hawaii 'the Sandwich Islands' after the Earl of Sandwich, a sponsor of his expeditions.

During this time power shifted to the Big Island under the rule of King Kamehameha, a famous warrior, who, although instrumental in Cook's death, forged close ties with the British. The Union Jack still forms part of the Hawaiian flag.

Through the 1800s the islands became important for whaling and a whole industry sprang up around them, Lahaina on Maui becoming the key town.

Today Hawaii is known as the Islands of Aloha, Aloha meaning welcome. It is in the nature of the people to offer their visitors every comfort that they are able and to proudly display their history and culture through song and dance, the Hula being the trademark story telling dance of the region.

The story of Hawaii can be found at the Bishop Museum (also known as the Museum of the Pacific) in Honolulu or by visiting the Polynesian Cultural Center to the north of Oahu.