The 1778 arrival of British explorer James Cook was Hawaii's first documented contact with European explorers. Cook named the islands the 'Sandwich Islands' in honor of his sponsor John Montagu; 4th Earl of Sandwich. He published the islands' location and reported the native name as Owyhee.

Cook visited the islands twice. During his second visit in 1779; he attempted to abduct the King of the Big Island of Hawaii; Kalani?opu?u; and hold him as ransom for the return of a ship's boat that was taken by a minor chief and his men; a tactic that had worked for Cook in Tahiti and other islands. Kalani?opu?u and his supporters fought back and Cook and four Marines were killed as Cook's party retreated to the beach and launched their boats.