Here's why:
* Native Hawaiians were already there: The Hawaiian Islands were already inhabited by Polynesian people for centuries before any European contact.
* Different perspectives: The concept of "discovery" often reflects a Eurocentric view of history. From the perspective of the native people, they were already living and thriving on the islands.
However, the first documented European contact with Hawaii was:
* January 18, 1778: Captain James Cook, a British explorer, landed on the island of Kauai. He named the islands the "Sandwich Islands" after the Earl of Sandwich.
Therefore, while it's not accurate to say Hawaii was "discovered," the year 1778 marks the first documented European contact with the islands.
