During his third voyage in the Pacific, British explorer James Cook embarked on a journey that would lead him to the Hawaiian Islands. On January 18, 1778, Cook's ships, including the HMS Resolution and the HMS Discovery, anchored off the coast of Kauai, marking the first recorded contact between Europeans and the Hawaiian Islands. Cook named the islands the 'Sandwich Islands' in honor of John Montagu, the 4th Earl of Sandwich, who was a patron of his voyages. The islands were initially met with curiosity and some confusion among the native Hawaiian populace, who had developed their own rich culture and navigational skills long before Cook's arrival.

Cook's arrival in Hawaii was not merely a moment of European exploration; it led to significant consequences for the islands' indigenous people. The implications of Cook's exploration were far-reaching, as it initiated a wave of European interest in the Pacific, leading to increased contact, trade, and, ultimately, colonization. In the weeks following Cook's arrival, he and his crew interacted with locals, engaging in trade and sharing cultural practices, although these exchanges would later become fraught with conflict as more European ships began to visit. The initial friendly exchanges set the stage for future relationships, albeit with devastating consequences for Hawaiians over time.

Cook's discovery of the Sandwich Islands marked a significant milestone in the Age of Exploration, as it opened up the Pacific region for further exploration by European powers. The Pacific would become a critical area of interest for traders, whalers, and missionaries in the years that followed. This declaration of the islands on maps impacted future navigators and contributed to the geopolitical landscape of the 18th century, as colonial interests spread across the Pacific.