January 18: The Day Someone “Discovered” People

January 18: The Day Someone “Discovered” People

Published: January 18, 2026

Duration: 3:51

On January 18, 1778, Captain James Cook became the first European to record contact with the Hawaiian Islands, placing them onto global maps for the first time. In this episode of The Strange History Podcast, Amy explores the strange true story of that encounter, the misunderstandings of “discovery,” and how one moment of contact reshaped the future of an entire island chain.

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January 18: The Day Someone “Discovered” People - The Strange History Podcast