Hawaii became the most recent state to join the union in 1959 and is now the third wealthiest.  Following it’s annexation, Hawaii became an important naval base for the US Navy so it is hardly surprising that they should be the first to attempt a flight from the US mainland to the island.  Aviation had already arrived at the islands in 1910 courtesy of Bud Mars, the Curtiss Daredevil.

The Hawaiian Archipelago

The annexation of Hawaii

J C Mars

Commander John Rodgers

Rodgers in the Wright Flyer

The PN9 flying boat

Rodgers and his crew survive to be welcomed into Hawaii

The Atlantic-Fokker C-2 Tri-motor

Atlantic-Fokker C-2 “Bird of Paradise” arrival in Hawaii

The start of the Dole Air Race

In all, six aircraft were lost or damaged beyond repair and ten lives lost.

Images under Creative Commons licence with thanks to Google Map Images, Bain News Service, Harris and Ewing, the Library of Congress, Hawaii Aviation, the USAF and the SDASM.

Images under Creatiove Commons licence with thanks to