It’s been nearly 250 years since the English Captain James Cook became the first European to land in Hawaiʻi. While part of that history is familiar to many in the islands, it may be surprising to know some of the details of that trip.
Hampton Sides wrote a New York Times bestseller on the topic, titled “The Wide Wide Sea: Imperial Ambition, First Contact and the Fateful Final Voyage of James Cook.” The Times named it one of the 10 Best Books of 2024.
Sides recently talked about the book with HPRʻs Bill Dorman, who asked what drew him to the story of Captain Cook.
"The Wide Wide Sea" can be purchased here.
This story aired on The Conversation on Sept. 16, 2025. The Conversation airs weekdays at 11 a.m.
