The Colonization of
the Hawaiian Islands
The Colonization of the Hawaiian Islands examines Hawaiian statehood, and takes a closer look at colonial conquest through the colonization methodology used in contemporary western imperialism. Hawaiian Island history is Native American history, by definition, which is frequently overlooked due to the confinement and lack of contact between all Native American culture groups of the mainland, and Pacific Islanders. This analysis addresses a common misunderstanding on a global scale about Hawaiian Island history, and how it has been made falsely assumptive that America has always been a colonizing, and governing force. The American methods used in assimilation of the Natives of mainland America and the Hawaiian island chain were the same, yet the acculturation of Native Hawaiians and effect was distinctly different in many ways. The conformity of Hawaii’s Native populace was not analogous with the psychological dissonance that mainland Native Americans felt. Though the implementation of missionary schools were a common apparatus whose efforts were the systematic failure of entire culture groups, Native Hawaiians would defy the forces of conventional assimilation and take their knowledge farther than any other Native group previous. With an already established monarchy Native Hawaiians would gain global notoriety as a sovereign, self-governing nation. As a self-governing entity Hawaiians would be subjected to the pressures of the already well-established American racial hierarchy who’s goal was the absolute exploitation of a divergent Hawaiian Native population, and earthly estate. Although all American aspirations of being the colonial force to conquer the Hawaiian Islands would become inadequate. Hawaii would remain a sovereign state and still has a claim to independence from America under U.N. Charters, and Articles describing America as an overseeing governing entity over the Hawaiian territory. It is these internationally recognized laws that Hawaii once again protests to the global community to fulfill the destiny of all Natives of Hawaii, as Hawaiians independent of American occupation. “Death is not the greatest loss in life. The greatest loss is what dies inside us while we live.” (Norman Cousins)
Primary Sources:
United Nations (website), “UN Article 73,” p. 13,Accessed March April 1, 2011google docs html version of the file http://untreaty.un.org/cod/repertory/art73/english/rep_orig_vol4-art73_e.pdf, http://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:etVOG0jnorsJ:untreaty.un.org/cod/repertory/art73/english/rep_orig_vol4-art73_e.pdf+,+http://untreaty.un.org/cod/repertory/art73/english/rep_orig_vol4-art73_e.pdf&hl=en&gl=us&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEESgtuFlYL84FPQsF943jbht
The United Nations Article 73 scanned original from the UN archives is documentation listing all territories/colonies, and outlines the conditions of a governing power overseeing a colony or territory. In this article America is established as one of the worldly governing powers and lists all of it’s territories/colonies, and for the first time in history Hawaii is shown to be a territory/colony of any country.
United Nations (website), ‘“UN General Assembly-Fifteenth Session 947th plenary meeting’, ‘Resolution 1514 XV,’ Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples,’” 14 December 1960 p. 66-67, Accessed April 1, 2011, http://www.un.org/documents/ga/res/15/ares15.htm
The Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, Resolution 1514 XV outlines rules for a governing entity in the granting of independence to any territory/colony that it is currently overseeing. Under Resolution 1514 America would have to cede all power over a territory/colony that is moving toward independence.
hawaiikingdom, International Treaties (website), “Recognition of Hawaiian Independence, View p.1 and p.2 of the original Anglo-Franco Proclamation from the United Kingdom archives,” November 28, 1843; United States in 1849, accessed April 1, 2011, http://www.hawaiiankingdom.org/treaties.shtml
The Anglo-Franco Proclamation is probably the most important piece of the puzzle. The Proclamation grants notoriety to Hawaii as a sovereign state, and legitimizes independence, which America recognizes December 20, 1849.
Secondary Sources:
Linda S. Parker, “Native American Estate: The Struggle Over Indian and Hawaiian Lands” (eBook) p.2, accessed April 10, 2011, http://netlibrary.com.lsproxy.austincc.edu/Reader/
This book was very interesting in drawing a comparative conclusion to the treatment of Native peoples. It forms an argument based on western imperialistic ideals of the time, and how those ideals contributed to the structuring of a racial hierarchy. This attitude would carry over into all interaction with the Native cultures that westerners encountered.
Wilson, Samuel M., “’Cultures in Contact’ (website), ‘Requerimiento 1510”’, Spring 2008, accessed April 11, 2011, http://www.utexas.edu/courses/wilson/contact_2007/requerimiento.html
This is an english copy of the Requiremiento. This document contributes greatly in the structuring process of a racial hierarchy; it also describes the damaging approach in establishing relations with all indigenous groups of the Americas. The sentiment felt in this document would influence all European advances on Native cultures, and lands.
Huff, Delores J. Huff , “To Live Heroically : Institutional Racism and American Indian Education,” (eBook) p. 195
Suny Series, Social Context of EducationPublication: Albany State University of New York Press, 1997; John Quincy Adams, “Remarked in 1802, U.S. Interior Department, Office of Indian Affairs, Report on Indian Affairs,” 1867, p. 144, http://netlibrary.com.lsproxy.austincc.edu/Reader/
The demeanor of an American president in this quote shows an inclination toward a racial hierarchy. Adams describes how Natives could not stand in the way of the civilizing of an American society in the face of an expanding European, Euro-American, and American industrious population.
Noenoe K. Silva “Aloha Betrayed: Native Hawaiian Resistance To American Colonialism,” (Kindle) p. 2, Duke University Press Durham & London, 2004; Ngugi wu Thiang’o
Silva quotes Ngugi wu Thiang’o’s definition of “the cultural bomb.” The cultural bomb thought to civilize Native cultures was the most detrimental to these societies. It was not in the favor of the culture being confronted with the inappropriate ways of assimilation and civility. The cultural bomb is explained as an imperialist belief that once a person from a culture group forgets their culture, the unity and lifestyle, they ultimately forget themselves, and who they really are.
Panfilo De Santiago