What is the History of the Hawaiian Islands?
The Hawaiian islands were first settled in the 4th century by Polynesians, likely from the Marquesas islands located about 2000 miles to the southeast. They introduced pigs, dogs, chickens, taro, sweet potatoes, banana, sugarcane, and many other crops to the islands. Further settlements occurred from Raiatea and/or Bora Bora (today part of the Society Islands) and/or Tahiti, in the 11th century. Like Easter Island in the southeast Pacific, the Hawaiian islands are one of the most isolated island chains in the Pacific, a fact reinforced by the high level of endemic flora and fauna on the island, which has evolved in relative isolation for millions of years.
