Iliahi Historical Timeline

Foreign ships begin trading sandalwood between the Hawaiian Islands and Canton, China

King Kamehameha I recognized the value of the sandalwood trade and ordered commoners to collect it. The sandalwood trade becomes the dominant industry in Hawaii, transforming the economy from subsistence to one based on materials and products

The sandalwood trade peaks, with American ships selling an average of 1,400 tons of sandalwood per year to Canton.

The sandalwood trade led to massive deforestation and the decimation of the iliahi supply. By 1840, the trade had come to a complete halt due to low supply. The sandalwood forests are depleted in Hawaii and the Chinese market collapses.

The first shipment of Western Australian sandalwood is exported to Singapore, establishing the "New Mountain" sandalwood industry

Western Australia becomes a major exporter of sandalwood to Asia

Global demand for sandalwood grows rapidly, leading to the depletion of wild sandalwood sources.