Hawaii Atlas of Historical County Boundaries
John H. Long, Editor; Peggy Tuck Sinko, Associate Editor; Douglas Knox, Book Digitizing Director; Emily Kelley, Historical and Digital Compiler; Laura Rico-Beck, GIS Specialist; Peter Siczewicz, ArcIMS Interactive Map Designer; Robert Will, Cartographic Assistant
Copyright The Newberry Library 2008
by 1810
King Kamehamea I completed conquest of the Hawaiian Islands and consolidated them under the authority of the kingdom. For local administration the king appointed four Governors: one for Hawaii, one for Maui and the adjacent islands, one for Oahu, and one for Kauai and the adjacent islands. (Littler, 17; Swindler, 3:13 )
31 December 1840
Kingdom of Hawaii became a constitutional monarchy with the Constitution of 1840, drafted and promulgated under King Kamehameha III. (Littler, 18-19; Swindler, 14-20)
30 January 1875
Hawaii and the United States approve the Reciprocity Treaty, allowing sugar and other products to enter the United States without customs duties; treaty ratified by the United States Senate on 15 August 1876. (HHS "Chronology")
6 July 1887
King Kalakaua is forced by the Hawaiian League, a group favoring a more liberalized constitution, to sign the "bayonet constitution" which included a clause giving the United States exclusive use of Pearl Harbor. (Coffman, 91-96)
14 January 1893
Queen Lili`uokalani attempted to proclaim a new constitution, restoring to the throne powers that were deleted in the constitution of 1887. (HHS "Chronology"; Littler, 22-23)
17 January 1893
Queen Lili`uokalani deposed; a provisional government established under Sanford B. Dole. (HHS "Chronology"; Littler, 22-23)
4 July 1894
The Republic of Hawaii is established. (HHS "Chronology"; Littler, 22-23)
7 July 1898
President McKinley signs a joint resolution of Congress annexing Hawaii to the United States. (Swindler, 79)
30 April 1900
Territory of Hawaii created by the United States when President McKinley signs the Organic Act. (Swindler, 83-105)
22 April 1903
Legislature passed a single act creating six original counties. (Hawaii Terr. Laws 1903, reg. sess., act 31, ch. 1/pp. 39-43; for page numbers of particular counties, see following citations)
EAST HAWAII (extinct) from the districts of Hilo, Puna, and Hamakua on the island of Hawaii, all other islands within three nautical miles of the shores thereof, and the waters adjacent thereto. (p. 42)
KALAWAO created from that portion of the island of Molokai known as Kalaupapa, Kalawao, and Waikolu; commonly designated as the Leper Settlement. KALAWAO was under the direct jurisdiction and control of the Board of Health and was assigned no county officers other than the District Magistrate and Sheriff. (pp. 40-42)
KAUAI created from the islands of Kauai and Niihau, all other islands within three nautical miles thereof, and the waters adjacent thereto. (pp. 42-43)
MAUI created from the islands of Maui, Molokai, Lanai, and Kahoolawe, all other islands lying within three nautical miles of the shores thereof, and the waters adjacent thereto. (p. 40)
OAHU (extinct) from the island of Oahu, all other Islands of the Territory not included in any other county, and the waters adjacent thereto; included Bird Island and Laysan Island. [Small islands in OAHU County extend as far west as Midway Island and are not displayed on interactive map; shapefile users see HI_small_islands.pt for locations.] (pp. 39-40)
WEST HAWAII (extinct) created from the districts of Kau, North Kohala, South Kohala, North Kona and South Kona on the island of Hawaii, all other islands within three nautical miles of the shores thereof and the waters adjacent thereto. (p. 42)
13 April 1905
HAWAII created by the Territory of Hawaii from EAST HAWAII (extinct), WEST HAWAII (extinct), all other islands lying within three nautical miles of the shores thereof, and the waters adjacent thereto; EAST HAWAII, and WEST HAWAII eliminated. (Hawaii Terr. Laws 1905, reg. sess., act 39, ch. 1/p. 45)
KALAWAO redefined [no change]. (Hawaii Terr. Laws 1905, reg. sess., act 39, ch. 1/p. 45)
KAUAI redefined [no change]. (Hawaii Terr. Laws 1905, reg. sess., act 39, ch. 1/p. 45)
MAUI redefined [no change]. (Hawaii Terr. Laws 1905, reg. sess., act 39, ch. 1/p. 45)
OAHU redefined [no change]. (Hawaii Terr. Laws 1905, reg. sess., act 39, ch. 1/p. 45)
30 April 1907
HONOLULU created from all of OAHU (extinct) when the "City and County of Honolulu" was incorporated; OAHU County eliminated. [Small islands in HONOLULU County extend as far west as Midway Island and are not displayed on interactive map; shapefile users see HI_small_islands.pt for locations.] (Hawaii Terr. Laws 1907, reg. sess., act 118, ch. 1/pp. 200-243)
4 April 1950
In an effort to obtain statehood, a Hawaii Constitutional Convention convened and the resulting constitution was later ratified by the voters. United States Congress delayed action on approving Hawaii's request. (HHS "Chronolgy"; Swindler, 120; Van Zandt, 166)
18 March 1959
Statehood for Hawaii approved by the U.S. Senate on March 11, by the House on March 12 and signed by the President on March 18. (Swindler, 120-133; Van Zandt, 166)