1800's

Pre-contact Traditional Hawaiian music is mostly vocal and percussive. The ʻukēkē is the sole stringed instrument.

1778-1779 First contact of Capt. Cook's Third Voyage.

1779 Hawaiian hula dancers visit California and perform for Mexican Governor.

1820 Arrival of American missionaries, introducing literacy. In several decades, Hawaiʻi will become the most literate nation in the world.

1830s Mexican vaqueros bring guitars to Hawaiʻi, while establishing the paniolo (cowboy) tradition. 

1833 C.F. Martin arrives in New York City and establishes luthiery studio and repair business.

1836 The Royal Hawaiian Band is founded by Kamehameha III, with the appointement of an African-American man named Oliver as director.

1838 Start of the Chiefs’ Children’s School, where aliʻi children will be taught western-style musical theory and composition, and a variety of stringed, wind and keyboard instruments. 

1840 First ad for guitar strings in “The Polynesian” newspaper.

                                    

1850s Hawaiian musicians and hula dancers perform in California on tour with Charles Derby, proprietor of Royal Hawaiian Theater at Alakea and Hotel Streets in Honolulu. 

1860 Henry Worall composes “Spanish Fandango” and “Sebastopol” both with open tuning.

1860s Keoneula Boys Reform School founded in Kapalama, the location of todays Kaʻiulani Elementary School. 

1867 Mekia Albert Kealakai, composer, educator and future inventor of the Dreadnought Martin guitar born in Honolulu.