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Honolulu's Chinatown is burned down due to fears of the bubonic plague.

1899

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The bubonic plague is found in Honolulu and a quarantine is instituted. After the quarantine does not prevent successive waves of the plague, the Bureau of Health begins burning down homes and businesses where the plague had been documented. Called "sanitary fires," the fires spread to homes without evidence of contamination, but the Bureau of Health continues to burn suspected businesses and homes. Displaced residents are placed into refugee camps.