Welcome to Hawai‘i
Aloha!

Getting to the Hawaiian Islands was a monumental trip, but the 1,250 mile long chain of islands made a great target (once you were in the neighborhood). Where did the first Hawaiians come from? Some scholars favor a Marquesan homeland; others argue that future archaeological work in the Society, Cook, and other islands to the south could turn up surprises. Stay tuned!

Hawai‘i was settled by at least 300 AD. There are tantalizing earlier radiocarbon dates, but these are hotly debated. Why? Archaeologists usually directly date charcoal, not artifacts (too valuable) or rocks from temples (undatable). People make fires, but so do lightning strikes and volcanic eruptions. Also charcoal fragments are often small and are easily dislodged from their original context.

At this island station try your hand at our Radiocarbon (14C) Dating Device.
Welcome to the Cook Islands
Upstairs Gallery of the Hawai`iloa Exhibit

Back to the Hawai'iloa page
Back to the Past Exhibits Page
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Revised on August 29, 1996 by mcb