Impact Of Hawaiian Imperialism

The age of imperialism had been a revolutionary force in bringing multiple societies around the Pacific into a new age of order and prosperity. Imperialism has typically been seen as a positive and powerful force that will bring about growth and riches to the countries involved. Although, many people tend to exclude the many negative impacts that imperialism has brought to many communities in Polynesia. However, none of these were as drastic and as controversial than the imperialistic influences forced upon the Native Hawaiians since the 17th Century. It is because of imperialism that brought about the fall of the Hawaiian Monarchy and the rise of the provisional government that would later become the 50th state of the United States of America.

It was the efforts of King Kalakaua (Kamehameha the 5th) that brought back a rejuvenation of Hawaiian culture and pride during 1880’s and 90’s. It took almost a century for the Hawaiians to regain their culture back. For instance, when Mark Twain visited Hawai`i in 1866, the letters he wrote to his sister and mother regarded not only Hawai`i’s beauty, but how much tourism has impacted Hawai`i. Twain writes about the unequal ratios of the Hawaiian people (kanaka), to foreigners, as well as the luscious and beautifully clothed singers and hospitality he was given. His letters give the impression that Hawai`i’ had been so commercialized that its rich culture and history had dwindled to the point where it was only seen as that of a trading post and travel destination (Twain, 1886). Furthermore, while Baldwin received aid from his fellow colleagues and the kahuna of the islands, why wouldn’t other countries help the Hawaiians in their time of need. When thousands of kanakas were in need of medical attention, why didn’t Britain or the United States send more physicians to help the Hawaiian people? The West had helped modernize Hawai`i and made it the central trading post it was at the time but at a saddening and most regrettable

For instance, in Frantz Fanon’s book, The Wretched Earth (pg.747), he states that colonizers will always be frowned upon and “laughed at” for the programs they enforce onto the natives because it always ends with someone getting the short end of the stick, which in this case were the natives. The lack of courtesy and consideration for the native’s culture, history, and way of life is the main reason why conflicts arise between the natives and colonizers. It is this selfishness that continues the endless cycle of violence and hatred. Especially, in this case, the Native Hawaiian people have every right to be furious at the U.S., they were stripped of their culture and soon later their sovereignty the main reason being that their land would be useful in fighting against the Spanish-American War, and all the U.S. had to offer was a written apology basically saying sorry for taking your land 100 years after the annexation took place (Cole and Symons, 2017). This kind of treatment and lack of common decency is why imperialism is a frowned upon in many colonized cultures because of the injustice it brings along with