When Captain James Cook discovered the Hawaiian Islands in 1778, he named them in honor of John Montagu, a British politician, who invented a certain kind of food. What name did Captain Cook give to Hawaii?

When the British explorer Captain James Cook arrived in the Hawaiian archipelago in 1778, he chose a name to honor his patron and financial backer, John Montagu. At the time, Montagu was the 4th Earl of Sandwich and held the powerful position of First Lord of the Admiralty, the official in charge of Great Britain's Royal Navy. To pay tribute to the Earl’s aristocratic title, Cook officially christened the island chain the Sandwich Islands.

The Earl of Sandwich is far more famous today for his contribution to cuisine than for his political career. According to popular legend, Montagu was an avid card player who spent long hours at the gambling table. To avoid interrupting his game for a formal meal, he would ask for slices of roast beef to be served between two pieces of toast. This convenient, one-handed meal allowed him to eat without leaving his seat, and it soon became known as the "sandwich" in his honor.

The name "Sandwich Islands" was widely used on maps and in Western literature for several decades following Cook's arrival. However, as the islands were unified under King Kamehameha I to form the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi, the indigenous name grew in prominence. By the mid-19th century, the name given by Cook had largely fallen out of common use, replaced by the one we know today.