History of Hawaiian Graphic Design

This blog is part of my thesis that explores the history of graphic design in Hawaii.The documentation of Hawaiian design history is vital so that graphic designers will have a resource and reference to accurately design for this genre. Documenting the history of this culture will educate designers about the events, traditions, and people that shaped the landscape of graphic design in the islands. This blog is created by Marvin Jastillana a Communication Design Major at Texas State University.

0300-01-01 22:35:52

Polynesians arrive from the Marquesas

Polynesians from the Marquesas Islands traveled by double hull canoe to Hawaii in 300 AD, bringing a collection of dialects characterized by many vowels and few consonants.

1200-01-01 23:48:06

Ki'i Pohaku

POHAKU Written in stone Primitive drawings called petroglyphs, or ki’i pohaku, were the earliest form of visual communication, typically used by ancient Hawaiians to communicate with their gods and guardian spirits. They were often found at burial sites or places believed to house mana, or powerful spirits.

1400-01-01 00:00:00

Introduction of surfing

Surfing is likely introduced to the Hawaiian Islands around this time. The first papa he‘e nalu (surfboards) are up to 18 feet long and weigh up to 175 pounds

1788-01-01 23:48:06

Arrival of Westerners. Captain James Cook

British explorer James Cook landed in Hawaii in 1788—the first European to visit the island chain—and introduced Hawaiians to writing instruments as well as a written language.

1821-01-01 00:00:00

Arrival of the missionaries

Protestant missionaries arrived the following year and converted many Hawaiians to Christianity.

1822-01-01 00:00:00

First printed book

The translation and printing of Hawaii’s first book--the Hawaiian Bible, Palapala Hemolele—spanned 17 years and involved several prominent missionaries and Hawaiians. The missionary Hiram Bingham first brought the printing press to the islands.

1822-01-01 00:00:00

FIRST PRINTING IN HAWAII

Elisha Loomis completed the first printing in the North Pacific region, using a second hand Ramage press brought to Hawaiian Islands on the Thaddeus with the First Company of American missionaries. The printing was done in a grass-roofed hut in Honolulu at the site that is now Kawaiaha‘o Church. This was the beginning of the Mission Press, which eventually printed millions of pages, many in the Hawaiian language.

1822-01-01 00:00:00

THE BIBLE IS TRANSLATED INTO HAWAIIAN

1822-01-01 00:00:00

HAWAIIAN LANGUAGE IS TRANSLATED

1835-01-01 00:00:00

First sugar plantation establised

The first sugar plantation is established on Kauai Island

1851-01-01 00:00:00

whaling industry

the start of the whaling industry. A total of 220 whaling ships stopped at Hawaiian ports.

1852-01-01 00:00:00

First Steamed propelled ship

First steam-propelled ship is used in interisland service

1865-01-01 00:00:00

Agricultural Era begins

First imigrant plantation workers arrive from Japan

1879-01-01 00:00:00

Introduction of the locomotive

First locomotive-train pulled its first load of sugarcane on Maui

1890-01-01 00:00:00

First pineapple is planted

Several US and European settlers had begun planting pineapples. Sugarcane planting also became an important industry. Thousands of workers were needed for these plantations; many came from China, Japan and the Philippines.

1900-01-01 00:00:00

Hawaii becomes a territory

1905-02-23 03:20:59

First Cars arrive on Oahu

1905-02-23 03:20:59

The Golden Age of Travel

With the advent of trans-Pacific transportation—via Matson’s luxury cruise liners and the China Clippers of Pan American Airways and United Airlines—more and more tourists flocked to islands, drawn by the enchanting images on promotional materials that marketed Hawaii travel.Enter story info here

1909-02-23 03:20:59

MID PACIFIC CARNIVAL POSTER

Annual floral parade poster. Pa'u rider.

1912-05-17 18:23:07

1912

Duke Kahanamoku participates at the Olympics in Stockholm

1913-02-23 03:20:59

MID PACIFIC CARNIVAL POSTER

Brotton and Rey Lithographers, S.F. for the Honolulu Star Bulletin

1920-01-01 00:00:00

IDEALIC POSTERS

Hawaii the year-round playground. Travel brochure

1922-01-01 00:00:00

Coined phrase graphic design

William Addison Dwiggins coined the occupation graphic design out of necessity to describe his trade.

1927-05-17 18:23:07

The Outdoor Circle

Group of women found the organization "Outdoor Circle" and end billboard advertising

1929-01-01 00:00:00

PINEAPPLE ADVERTISING

Print advertising poster by the Pineapple Producers Cooperative. The design places emphasis on the connection with the Hawaiian islands. No specific brand is mentioned promoting the industry as a whole. Brown, David. Hawaii Recalls. Editions Limited, Honolulu, 1982

1929-01-01 00:00:00

PINEAPPLE LABELS

1929-01-01 23:48:06

PINEAPPLE ADVERTISING

Agricultural poster, circa 1929. Designer unknown. Brown, David. Hawaii Recalls. Editions Limited, Honolulu, 1982

1935-05-17 18:23:07

Trans-pacific flight

First 2,270-mile trans-Pacific flight from San Francisco to Hawaii takes 21 1/2 hours

1941-12-07 00:00:00

ATTACK ON PEARL HARBOR

When World War II began in 1939, the United States chose to stay out of the war. After the historic Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor and Oahu on Dec. 7, 1941, the United States declared war on Japan and entered World War II. Many of the damaged ships and submarines were repaired by armed forces and used in the war. The National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific was dedicated in 1949 in Honolulu; thousands are buried there.

1957-01-01 23:48:06

Modern Communications

The first telephone cable from the US mainland to Hawaii operated

1959-01-01 00:00:00

Travel Advertisements

Canadian Pacific Airlines Poster

1959-09-21 00:00:00

PAN AM POSTER

1959-09-21 23:48:06

statehood

Hawaii became the 50th state on Aug. 21, 1959

1959-09-21 23:48:06

JET AIRcraft

The jet-aircraft terminal in Honolulu was completed

1959-09-21 23:48:06

PAN AM POSTER

1959-09-21 23:48:06

PAN AM POSTER

1959-09-21 23:48:06

UNITED AIRLINES POSTER

1960-01-01 00:00:00

clarence lee poster design

1965-09-21 23:48:06

HAWAII CALLS 1965

1995-01-01 00:00:00

HAWAII.COM GOES LIVE

Hawaii.com goes online with the message of Live Aloha!

History of Hawaiian Graphic Design

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