Hawaiian annexation to the United States was opposed by most Hawaiians in 1893, but their will was overruled by a minority of foreigners residing on Oahu. Things changed in Hawaii and 66 years later, most citizens voted in favor of becoming a U.S. State.
Hawaiian Kingdom and the Haole
Along Farrington Highway in Waianae, Oahu, a big sign in the front yard of a Native Hawaiian's house screams, "Fifty years of lies!" And at the Iolani Palace in Honolulu, a tour guide of Hawaiian and Samoan descent informs visitors that many Hawaiian youth, upon learning how the kingdom of Hawaii was annexed to the United States, "are very angry." On the island of Kauai, "Haole, Go Home!" is scrawled on a giant rock for all to see. 'Haole' is the Hawaiian term for the white man.
"The struggle for Hawaiian sovereignty has not been dismissed as impractical or impossible, and many native Hawaiians demand a truthful and rigorous reassessment," says Glen Grant in the introduction to Hawaii's Story by Queen Liliuokalani. "The Hawaiian language and culture, suppressed after American annexation, are being revived." However, according to the U.S. census, Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islanders now compose just 9.1% of the Hawaiian people.
Can these stirrings of nationalist pride ever be satisfied?
Originally each of the Hawaiian islands had their own sovereign king, but King Kamehameha the Great wanted to unify and rule over them all, and his expansionist efforts were finally rewarded in a bloody battle on Oahu. He is now celebrated in school textbooks as a giant in Hawaiian history. On a more global level, this is similar to what happened again to Hawaii, only the islands were joined as one to the larger country of the United States.
Free Hawaii From the U.S. Military?
Small and isolated in the midst of the Pacific Ocean, the Hawaiian islands are strategic yet vulnerable to powerfully backed invaders. In the early 1800's, Russia held Kauai as a protectorate, and in 1843, Lord Paulet of Britain forced the acquiescence of King Kamehameha III, until Admiral Thomas restored his sovereignty. The islands were at the mercy of the British. After that, officers in the United States navy were interested in controlling Hawaii, and the USS Boston invaded Honolulu in 1893. In 1941, Japan attacked Pearl Harbor to control the Pacific Ocean theater, but lost their bid to the United States.
To remain sovereign, Hawaii would need a strong military to thwart conquerors, yet the islands have no natural metal. The ground is composed of volcanic rock and sand, so metal for weapons and ships would have to be imported from distant lands. It almost seems destiny would preclude Hawaii from being self-governing.
Hawaiian People Benefit from U.S. Citizenship
In 1959, Hawaiians voted 17 to 1 in favor of U.S. statehood. As a State in the United States, Hawaiian citizens could share in the basic rights and privileges of all U.S. citizens, have a voice in Washington, D.C. and be protected by the U.S. armed forces. They would be exempt from import and export taxes on trade with other States on the mainland, and could share equally in the U. S. economy. They are entitled to the federal funds for government services every other State receives.
Because the government and economy of Hawaii have by 2010 have become so enmeshed with that of the mainland United States, it is unlikely full Hawaiian national sovereignty can be restored. Some Native Hawaiians still feel historical outrage and, in acknowledgment, Bill Clinton signed a formal apology to them in 1993. However, they have also gained benefits from joining the federation of the United States, with the most recent producing the 44th President, a gentleman named Barack Obama.
Read more about Hawaii:
Join the Conversation