During the early 1800s, about two dozen men of African descent lived in Hawaii. The most noteworthy was Anthony D. Allen, a businessman who had traveled around the world before making Hawaii his home and starting a family there in 1810. The 25th Black Infantry Regiment, also known as the Buffalo Soldiers, arrived in Honolulu at the Schofield Barracks in 1913. They built an 18-mile trail to the summit of Mauna Loa, the world’s largest shield volcano, and constructed a cabin there for research scientists. After World War II, the black population of Hawaii increased dramatically as military families moved permanently to the island. Hawaii has a diverse population, and today about 35,000 residents, approximately three percent, claim African ancestry.
