Pearl Harbor

:For the World War II battle, see Attack on Pearl Harbor.

Early history of Pearl Harbor

Pearl Harbor was originally an extensive, shallow embayment called Wai Momi (meaning "Water of Pearl") or Pu‘uloa by the Hawaiians. Pu‘uloa was regarded as the home of the shark goddess Ka‘ahupahau and her brother, Kahi‘uka. The harbor was teeming with pearl-producing oysters until the late 1800's.

Related Topics:
Embayment - Hawaiians - Oyster

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In the years following the arrival of Captain James Cook, Pearl Harbor was not considered a suitable port due to the shallowness of the water. The United States of America and the Hawaiian Kingdom signed the Reciprocity Treaty of 1875 as Supplemented by Convention on December 6, 1884 and ratified in 1887. On January 20, 1887, the United States Senate allowed the Navy to lease Pearl Harbor as a naval base (the US took possession on November 9 that year). As a result, Hawai‘i obtained exclusive rights to allow Hawaiian sugar to enter the United States duty free. The Spanish-American War of 1898 and the desire for the United States to have a permanent presence in the Pacific both contributed to the decision to annex Hawai‘i.

Related Topics:
James Cook - United States of America - Hawaiian Kingdom - 1875 - Supplemented by Convention - December 6 - 1884 - 1887 - January 20 - United States Senate - Navy - November 9 - Sugar - Spanish-American War - 1898

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

After annexation, Pearl Harbor was refitted to allow for more navy ships. In 1908 the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard was established. In 1917, Ford Island in the middle of Pearl Harbor was purchased for joint Army and Navy use in the development of military aviation in the Pacific.

Related Topics:
1908 - 1917 - Ford Island

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

As Japanese influence increased in the Pacific, the US increased the US Navy's presence as well. With tensions rising between the United States and Japan in 1940, the US began training operations at the base. The attack on Pearl Harbor by Japan on December 7, 1941 brought the United States into World War II.

Related Topics:
1940 - Attack on Pearl Harbor - Japan - December 7 - 1941 - United States - World War II

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~