Hawaii is a place of breathtaking beauty and a history that’s as layered as its volcanic landscape. Before it became the 50th state in 1959, Hawaii was a kingdom, a battleground for international interests, and eventually a U.S. territory. Each chapter in its history has left an imprint, from its time as an independent monarchy to its annexation and the years that followed.
Through the struggles and triumphs of its past, Hawaii’s culture and spirit endured. This collection of rare photographs captures a glimpse of life during those transformative times, showing everything from the original inhabitants to the devastating attack on Pearl Harbor.
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1. Two Hawaiian locals stand with their outrigger canoes on Waikiki Beach’s shoreline in Honolulu, late 1800s.
2. The Hawaiian Kingdom's flag is lowered at ʻIolani Palace to raise the United States flag, marking the annexation of Hawaii in Honolulu, August 12, 1898.
3. Queen Liliʻuokalani, the deposed last monarch of Hawaii, relaxes on the porch of her private home with her dog, Poni, in 1917.
4. Woman standing in front of a grass thatched house, with the now extinct poi dog by her side, Oahu, Hawaii, 1900.
5. A group of Niihauan men, women, and a young girl gather outside a traditional thatched hut on the island of Niihau, circa 1885.
6. Niihauans fishing in canoes in Puʻuwai Beach, in the Kamalino District, Niihau, Hawaii, circa 1885.
7. An aerial view captures the devastating attack on Pearl Harbor, taken from a Japanese dive bomber in Hawaii, 1941.
8. Villagers in Niihau gather at Hale, presenting a glimpse into island life during 1885.
9. The bustling Kahului Harbor in Maui is seen in this photograph from 1907, reflecting a growing community.
10. Franklin and John Roosevelt, sons of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, pose with swimmer and surfing legend Duke Kahanamoku at Waikiki Beach in August 1934.
11. A peaceful moment of night fishing in Hawaii in 1948.
12. A young Liliʻuokalani, later the final monarch of Hawaii, is pictured at 15 years old in 1853.
13. This is believed to be the first-ever photograph of a Hawaiian surfer taken in 1890.
14. A Hawaiian man stands against the backdrop of Hawaii Island’s beauty in the 1890s.
15. Martial law during World War II is evident in this Waikiki scene, circa 1942.
16. Senior students from the Kamehameha School for Girls in Honolulu in a class photo from 1899.
17. A man dwarfed by enormous tropical plants in Hawaii, 1924.
