Which captain sailed into Honolulu Harbor and in what year?

The correct answer is that Captain James Cook sailed into Honolulu Harbor in 1778. James Cook was an English navigator and explorer who is best known for his voyages in the Pacific Ocean. His arrival in Hawaii in 1778 marked the first documented contact between Europeans and the Hawaiian Islands. This historic event was significant as it opened the islands to further exploration and eventual tourism.

While other captains mentioned, such as William Brown and George Vancouver, made their own contributions to the exploration of the Pacific, they did not achieve the same level of notoriety regarding their interactions with Hawaii, particularly in relation to Honolulu Harbor. Captain Henry Hudson, known for his exploration of parts of North America, did not have any connection to Hawaii, having visited regions far removed from the Pacific Islands. Understanding Cook's expeditions helps to place the significance of his arrival in the context of Hawaiian history and European exploration.