Posted by Tane on February 7, 2009 at 6:07pm in Politics
Most US Americans don't know Hawaii'/US history other than what they had been fed. It would be interesting to find out what they believe or led to believe. What was the USA's reasons for invading the Hawaiian Kingdom? We know it wasn't to protect the lives of US Americans; our Hawaiian Constitution and treaties with the USA protected them. It wasn't to spread democracy; we already had that. We didn't ask for the USA to be here in Hawaii or to liberate us.
So what were the reasons? Hawai'i was an expendable outpost to protect US interests, the west coastal area, and the key to naval dominance within the Pacific Ocean. It could capitalize on Hawai'i's resources to enrich itself. It could stop close relations with Great Britain and France, influences the USA greatly feared. The USA coveted Hawaii to secure its goals; it couldn't have it, so it took it surreptiously through covert and overt actions.
It seems the USA has a habit of doing things like that. Any questions?
Tane
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From the perspective of business, I see it was a way of exploiting the treasure of what was there in land resources and then looking at the purse strings of who was open and who was closed fisted. Royals invested outside the islands as part of their travels - alot of navigation at sea. What they learned overseas was hard to implement on an island as far as creating a resource to bring in a working economy. Shipping things to our island was always a concern for goods as it is today when it comes to SHORTAGES but they had a great system working at the time.
I think what we face now in our economic woes, it was also a concern of the Hawaiian Kingdom for it's inevitable when your home is surrounded by water in the middle of water. Yet for politics it was and is still a gateway for military strategy...what better way to include this in the initial idea to bring force what greed inhaled. Those that were before, their own ancestors for the annexation are alive today. Some making better choices to what their forefathers did in wrong...some continuing the deathly breath. That's just how the cycle is and is allowed to happen by the universe.
I believe bringing in the plantation was a way to create work for our people irregardless of what haole or religious organization was behind it. Once land was divided for ownership it disassembled a way of life where all for one and one for all was a thinking that was challenged partly by how much civilization was changing bringing in westernalized thinking because of all the travels of the royals. Whether or not culturally they compromised or some would say influenced or coerced, the businessman indeed, found a weakness to dismantle what was.
I'm not going to cause blame or blameshift my feelings of "who it was" because although I may have stories of what was told to me which I have not found in any history books, I do know that it was an overwhelming time of changes...that much I can say. Trust was broken and it was a scary time for those that were living during that era when the anti-annexation petition did nothing for history but placed our ancestors handwriting on paper...yes they rallied and they showed their support as we are doing today. They did it as ONE VOICE and where we take it today is... "to the next level". And, by doing this we have to set aside all things causing strife one koko to another on whatever that may be, from one camp to another.
Every camp has its whispers but until there is one still voice, whatever course it maybe to bring unity to make a difference for us all.... all we do now is chase our own tails when there is struggle without motion of concrete changes in this is frustration and wasted energy. It's how we deal with the frustration to still come together as our first and foremost struggle is where the world will judge us The more maturity is brought about in this senstive issue we have at hand in our nation..the more people and places will take us seriously. We all know the real history behind what happened with our sovereign nation, we are telling the world that doesn't shut us out. It now takes us to change the history or better yet make a better history to make right the wrongs.
I appreciate all the hard work to those who stand up and march...I remember back when I was a new member of Kanakamaoli list site with UH and the vision of seeing koko march down our streets in protest yet in humility...the movement and flow that so many times over since then....just awesome to see that maturity of where we were to where we are now is wonderful. Just looking at it from that perspective, change of making right the wrongs of our past is something that is attainable because there has never been a turning back just moving forward and that in my opinion is a good momentum no matter how others may snicker and judge what koko does for justice...koko has made some monumental changes for the common good and we all must continue that torch and move forward because IT REALLY IS IN OUR REACH!
Good questions posed! I'm sure that this wasn't part of a Hawaiian History test at KS. Well, if we didn't learn about this in school, who did we hear it from? Our tutu, family and friends. Oh, U.S. documents and so forth (e.g. Morgan and Blount Report). I just throwing out some historical and familial facts.
The Hawaiian Island are centrally located in the Pacific Ocean, the land of our ancestors. This location provided an opportunity for the U.S. to strategically and politcally overthrow the Hawaiian Kingdom. If I recall, David Malo and mentioned this about what was transforming long before it occurred.
Secret meetings were set up to plan their covert and overt actions. This wasn't by accident. Point the cannon at I'olani Palace, for sure you would be scared too.
Other factors included greed - acquisition of land and cheap labor! No duty taxes and guess what- you're wealthy. Kanaka Maoli didn't work in the hot sun. They worked when it was cool. I can't handle the rays of the sun today either - gotta use sunscreen or hat.
Political power - I got you and do as I say or else - your are #____ in jail. I make the laws and you abide.You don't like it, this is what is going to happend to you.
It seems U.S. does have a habit of doing these things and utmost disregard for the po'e they placed at risk in all areas. Then they get pist off and grumble about the po'e they did it to. They don't blame themselves one bit, but give an aplology bill a mere fourteen years ago by Clinton that meant what... Oh yeah, we did this to you...but wait another how many years to have some type of relief for your pain and suffering?
Sounds crazy, but written in simple and broken language called "Hawaiian Creole."
Tane,
I guess my only reply is that I totally agree with your assessment.
Additionally...something EVERY American should think about. From the second that the first "so called American" set foot on the north american continent...it was wrong. I was not their place to walk on another's land. That first group of "invaders" have been invading other peoples around the world ever since. It is their M.O. Sadly, they have "hid" behind lofty ideals like Freedom, Justice and Liberty for all, but have in reality...
delivered quite the opposite.
Someone reminded me that if I was born before Statehood (1959)...then I was NOT born an American citizen, but actually am a National by birth. That is the only thing these days that brings me solice.
Actually, the United States PROCLAIMED Hawaiian citizens of the Republic of Hawai'i as U.S. citizens since the Organic Act of 1900. Asians were barred from being citizens unless they were already Hawaiian citizens of the Republic of Hawai'i; some who left and returned to Hawai'i were also denied citizenship. How racist is that? They had an open door policy for all caucasian people.
Good choice of words to describe an open door policy for all caucasian people. The Republic of Hawaii was set up to control and they limited who could enter or not into Hawaii. It should be called the "Jokeganic Act!"
Replies
I think what we face now in our economic woes, it was also a concern of the Hawaiian Kingdom for it's inevitable when your home is surrounded by water in the middle of water. Yet for politics it was and is still a gateway for military strategy...what better way to include this in the initial idea to bring force what greed inhaled. Those that were before, their own ancestors for the annexation are alive today. Some making better choices to what their forefathers did in wrong...some continuing the deathly breath. That's just how the cycle is and is allowed to happen by the universe.
I believe bringing in the plantation was a way to create work for our people irregardless of what haole or religious organization was behind it. Once land was divided for ownership it disassembled a way of life where all for one and one for all was a thinking that was challenged partly by how much civilization was changing bringing in westernalized thinking because of all the travels of the royals. Whether or not culturally they compromised or some would say influenced or coerced, the businessman indeed, found a weakness to dismantle what was.
I'm not going to cause blame or blameshift my feelings of "who it was" because although I may have stories of what was told to me which I have not found in any history books, I do know that it was an overwhelming time of changes...that much I can say. Trust was broken and it was a scary time for those that were living during that era when the anti-annexation petition did nothing for history but placed our ancestors handwriting on paper...yes they rallied and they showed their support as we are doing today. They did it as ONE VOICE and where we take it today is... "to the next level". And, by doing this we have to set aside all things causing strife one koko to another on whatever that may be, from one camp to another.
Every camp has its whispers but until there is one still voice, whatever course it maybe to bring unity to make a difference for us all.... all we do now is chase our own tails when there is struggle without motion of concrete changes in this is frustration and wasted energy. It's how we deal with the frustration to still come together as our first and foremost struggle is where the world will judge us The more maturity is brought about in this senstive issue we have at hand in our nation..the more people and places will take us seriously. We all know the real history behind what happened with our sovereign nation, we are telling the world that doesn't shut us out. It now takes us to change the history or better yet make a better history to make right the wrongs.
I appreciate all the hard work to those who stand up and march...I remember back when I was a new member of Kanakamaoli list site with UH and the vision of seeing koko march down our streets in protest yet in humility...the movement and flow that so many times over since then....just awesome to see that maturity of where we were to where we are now is wonderful. Just looking at it from that perspective, change of making right the wrongs of our past is something that is attainable because there has never been a turning back just moving forward and that in my opinion is a good momentum no matter how others may snicker and judge what koko does for justice...koko has made some monumental changes for the common good and we all must continue that torch and move forward because IT REALLY IS IN OUR REACH!
The Hawaiian Island are centrally located in the Pacific Ocean, the land of our ancestors. This location provided an opportunity for the U.S. to strategically and politcally overthrow the Hawaiian Kingdom. If I recall, David Malo and mentioned this about what was transforming long before it occurred.
Secret meetings were set up to plan their covert and overt actions. This wasn't by accident. Point the cannon at I'olani Palace, for sure you would be scared too.
Other factors included greed - acquisition of land and cheap labor! No duty taxes and guess what- you're wealthy. Kanaka Maoli didn't work in the hot sun. They worked when it was cool. I can't handle the rays of the sun today either - gotta use sunscreen or hat.
Political power - I got you and do as I say or else - your are #____ in jail. I make the laws and you abide.You don't like it, this is what is going to happend to you.
It seems U.S. does have a habit of doing these things and utmost disregard for the po'e they placed at risk in all areas. Then they get pist off and grumble about the po'e they did it to. They don't blame themselves one bit, but give an aplology bill a mere fourteen years ago by Clinton that meant what... Oh yeah, we did this to you...but wait another how many years to have some type of relief for your pain and suffering?
Sounds crazy, but written in simple and broken language called "Hawaiian Creole."
I guess my only reply is that I totally agree with your assessment.
Additionally...something EVERY American should think about. From the second that the first "so called American" set foot on the north american continent...it was wrong. I was not their place to walk on another's land. That first group of "invaders" have been invading other peoples around the world ever since. It is their M.O. Sadly, they have "hid" behind lofty ideals like Freedom, Justice and Liberty for all, but have in reality...
delivered quite the opposite.
Someone reminded me that if I was born before Statehood (1959)...then I was NOT born an American citizen, but actually am a National by birth. That is the only thing these days that brings me solice.
mahalo Tane for your words of wisdom....
Donna