History of HawaiiHistory of Hawaii

Earliest HawaiiansEarliest Hawaiians 300-700 B.C. 300-700 B.C.

Polynesians who Polynesians who traveled to traveled to Hawaii by canoeHawaii by canoe• Brought pigs, Brought pigs,

dogs, chickens, dogs, chickens, sweet potatoes, sweet potatoes, taro, coconut,taro, coconut,sugarcanesugarcane

Earliest Hawaiians (cont’d)Earliest Hawaiians (cont’d)

No written languageNo written language History, religion, and History, religion, and

culture were all culture were all passed down through passed down through songs and chantssongs and chants

Social StructureSocial Structure KingKing

Each island had its own kingEach island had its own king

Chief MinisterChief Minister (spiritual advisor to the King) (spiritual advisor to the King)

Ali’iAli’iChiefs of villages, put in place by the KingChiefs of villages, put in place by the King

KahunaKahuna Craftsman of canoes, medicine, spells, etc.Craftsman of canoes, medicine, spells, etc.

MakaainanaMakaainana Commoners (the poor, the workers)Commoners (the poor, the workers) Largest group of peopleLargest group of people

““Kapu” System (Laws)Kapu” System (Laws) System of religious beliefs that held Hawaiian System of religious beliefs that held Hawaiian

society togethersociety together

Taboos, or things that should not be doneTaboos, or things that should not be done ExamplesExamples

• Men and women could not eat togetherMen and women could not eat together• Women could not eat bananas, coconutsWomen could not eat bananas, coconuts• Fishing could only be done in certain seasonsFishing could only be done in certain seasons

Men could only eat certain kinds of fishMen could only eat certain kinds of fish• Shadow of a commoner could not fall on a ChiefShadow of a commoner could not fall on a Chief

Breaking these laws was punishable by Breaking these laws was punishable by deathdeath!! Human sacrifice, losing your eyes, limbs, etc.Human sacrifice, losing your eyes, limbs, etc.

““European Discovery”European Discovery” January 1778January 1778

Captain James Cook Captain James Cook “discovers” the islands “discovers” the islands while searching for while searching for route from Alaska to route from Alaska to AsiaAsia

First person to write First person to write about the Hawaiian’s about the Hawaiian’s riding waves on riding waves on wooden boards wooden boards (surfing!)(surfing!)

How did Capt. Cook die in Hawaii?How did Capt. Cook die in Hawaii?

Kamehameha The GreatKamehameha The Great

King Kamehameha I (1758-1819)King Kamehameha I (1758-1819) Learned combat from the British Learned combat from the British

(Capt. Cook)(Capt. Cook)

Conquered Big Island, Maui, Conquered Big Island, Maui, Molokai, LanaiMolokai, Lanai

To conquer to Oahu, he built a huge To conquer to Oahu, he built a huge fleet of canoes to carry his warriorsfleet of canoes to carry his warriors

• Landed at Waikiki, drove the Oahu’ans Landed at Waikiki, drove the Oahu’ans back to Nu’uanu Paliback to Nu’uanu Pali

Formation of Hawaiian KingdomFormation of Hawaiian Kingdom

After victory on Oahu, Kauai quickly agreed to After victory on Oahu, Kauai quickly agreed to peacepeace

The 8 Hawaiian islands became one kingdom, The 8 Hawaiian islands became one kingdom, with allegiance to Great Britainwith allegiance to Great Britain

American farmers begin moving to Hawaii in American farmers begin moving to Hawaii in 1820s1820s

5 more “Kamehamea’s”5 more “Kamehamea’s”

Kamehameha IV (1834-1863)Kamehameha IV (1834-1863)

During his reign, many foreigners During his reign, many foreigners (Americans) began trying to get (Americans) began trying to get Hawaii annexed to the United Hawaii annexed to the United StatesStates These were sugarcane plantation These were sugarcane plantation

ownersowners

Wanted more trade with the USAWanted more trade with the USA ($$$$$$) ($$$$$$)

Kamehameha V (1830-1872)Kamehameha V (1830-1872) The Civil War cut off sugar to the Northern The Civil War cut off sugar to the Northern

states from the Southstates from the South• Created huge demand for sugar in the USA Created huge demand for sugar in the USA

(northern states)(northern states)

People (Americans and Hawaiians) People (Americans and Hawaiians) created a Hawaiian Legislature, limiting created a Hawaiian Legislature, limiting power of the Kingpower of the King

Lots of racial troubleLots of racial trouble• Fights in the Legislature between native Fights in the Legislature between native

Hawaiians and white AmericansHawaiians and white Americans

• Whites refused to speak “Hawaiian” in the Whites refused to speak “Hawaiian” in the legislature. Hawaiians refused to speak Englishlegislature. Hawaiians refused to speak English

Last King of Hawaii who wasn’t electedLast King of Hawaii who wasn’t elected

Queen Lili’uokalani (1838-1917)Queen Lili’uokalani (1838-1917) Struggled with fights between white Struggled with fights between white

businessmen and native Hawaiian businessmen and native Hawaiian politicianspoliticians

Queen wanted to give more power Queen wanted to give more power back to the monarchyback to the monarchy

1887 - White businessmen formed a 1887 - White businessmen formed a militia (1500 men) and a new militia (1500 men) and a new government (Committee of Safety)government (Committee of Safety)

The Queen could have had them The Queen could have had them arrested for treason!arrested for treason!

Overthrow of Hawaii - 1898Overthrow of Hawaii - 1898

1893 – 1893 – Lili’uokalani wanted peace, so she didn’t Lili’uokalani wanted peace, so she didn’t

arrest themarrest them

However, the Committee of Safety’s militia However, the Committee of Safety’s militia took over the government buildingstook over the government buildings

The night before this, US marines landed on The night before this, US marines landed on Oahu to “keep the peace”Oahu to “keep the peace”

The Queen was forced to accept the The Queen was forced to accept the annexation of Hawaii to the United Statesannexation of Hawaii to the United States

Native Hawaiians tried to revolt in 1895, Native Hawaiians tried to revolt in 1895, which failed. which failed.

The Queen was arrested and sentenced to The Queen was arrested and sentenced to imprisonment in a bedroom in I’olani Palaceimprisonment in a bedroom in I’olani Palace