Liveblogging History: January 20, 1778: 1st Contact Captain Cook
On this date in Hawaiian history (236 years ago) Captain Cook landed at Waimea on the island of Kauai and named the island group the Sandwich Islands, in honor of John Montague, who was the Earl of Sandwich and one his patrons.
This was the date of first contact with Europeans. Cook and subsequent visitors brought venereal disease, rats and many other species of plants and animals that have forever changed the beautiful garden island of Kauai.
It remains a gem on the Hawaiian archipelago.
