U.S. Imperialism CASE STUDY: Hawai’i

Indigenous Hawaiian Culture 300 A.D.: First inhabitants were the Polynesians. 1000 A.D.: Second wave of settlers were from Tahiti. Two populations acculturated and created a thriving society ruled by kings and chieftains. Hawai’i stayed isolated until 1778.

End of Hawaiian Isolation In 1778, English Captain James Cook and his crew were the first westerners to reach Hawai’i. They only stayed in Hawai’i for a short period of time, however, they would introduce Hawai’i to the rest of the Western world. Shortly thereafter, Hawai’i became an important center for trade.

Destruction of Indigenous Culture by the Haole 1780 to 1800: Hawai’i became an important center for trade (fur, sandalwood, and the whaling industry) 1820: Arrival of Protestant missionaries to Hawai’i. 1835: American commercial production of sugar cane began. As more and more missionaries and businessmen came to Hawai’i, they began to oppress and destroy the native culture and population. They brought in a number of diseases as well, which killed off a tenth of the native population. “Hawai’i for Hawaiians”

The Rise of the U.S. Sugar Industry Growth of U.S. sugarcane plantations and corporations. U.S. naval base opened at Pearl Harbor to protect U.S. interests. Trade treaty between U.S. and Hawai’i led to boom in the Hawaiian sugar industry, which brought about wealth for the sugar planters and the U.S. at the expense of the native population. 1887: King Kalakaua is pressured by planters to adopt a new constitution.

The Fall of Queen Lilioukalani Queen Lilioukalani came to power in 1891. 1893: She attempted to restore the old constitution, which would give the power back to the Hawai’ian people. The sugar planters backed by the US government and the marines forced the Queen to give up power and a provisional government lead by the US was put into place. President Cleveland did not support annexation of Hawai’i. She led an “unsuccessful” revolt against the provisional government. She was imprisoned and the Hawaiian people were forced to swear their allegiance to the new republic.

Annexation of Hawai’i Most native Hawaiians opposed annexation: “We particularly resent the presumption of being transferred like a flock of sheep or bartered horde of savages, by an unprincipled minority of aliens who have no right, no legal power, no influence over us, not even a claim of conquest by fair handed warfare, and we can not believe our friends of the great and just American nation could tolerate annexation by force against the wishes of the majority of the population.” – Petition to the U.S. Congress and the President in 1898 by 37,000 Hawaiian people. Hawai’i was annexed in 1898 by pro imperialist president William McKinley during the height of the Spanish American War. Hawai’i became a territory in 1900 Eventually, Hawai’i became a state in 1959.

Today: Sovereignty In 1993, President Bill Clinton signed the “Apology Bill” (PL 103-150), acknowledging the illegality of Hawai’i’s overthrow and annexation. The fight for Hawaiian sovereignty and self determination continues.

Music Response Hawai’i 78 Please listen to the lyrics carefully and consider the following questions in your response: What lyrics stand out? Who’s perspective does it represent? Describe the expression in the voice. Explain what you understand the message of the song to be. Hawai’i 78