Hawai'i

"What does Hawaii’s past teach us about the power of economics in shaping societies?" This book explores how resources, trade, and historical events influenced the trajectory of this Pacific paradise.

1. Settling Hawaii: A Journey of Human Ingenuity

The Polynesians were among the first to arrive on Hawaii’s uninhabited islands around the twelfth century after deliberate oceanic migrations. These settlers traveled over 2,000 miles using advanced navigation techniques that relied on natural signs like stars, winds, and tides. Their journey wasn’t accidental but a calculated risk to find new opportunities.

Upon reaching Hawaii, settlers found agriculturally fertile land. They brought with them skilled farming methods, such as irrigation systems for taro crops. These techniques made the land highly productive, providing plenty of food and ensuring that early Hawaiian society thrived.

Early Hawaiians initially enjoyed an egalitarian social structure. Sparse population and abundant resources allowed people to work independently without conflicts or the emergence of a ruling class.

Examples

• Polynesians loaded canoes with durable food like breadfruit paste and taro roots for long trips.
• Settlers constructed large taro farms with imported irrigation methods from Polynesian islands.
• The first Hawaiian communities lived in harmony without a class hierarchy.

2. Population Growth Transformed Hawaiian Society

As the population steadily increased, Hawaii transitioned from a simple society to one with distinct social classes. By the fifteenth century, the abundance of arable land was depleted, and competition for resources began shaping societal roles.

The ruling elite, known as the ali'i, garnered power while the agricultural workers, or maka'āinana, remained tied to the land. Elites began enforcing taxation and organizing larger governance structures to manage the growing complexity of society. This growing divide and the limited availability of cultivable land marked the end of egalitarianism.

In addition, inter-island diplomacy and occasional conflicts became more intricate as ali'i rulers sought to emulate bureaucracies they encountered in wealthier O'ahu regions. Land assignments also emerged, setting a precedent for Hawaiian chiefs to consolidate their hold over territories and people.

Examples

• High birth rates spurred rapid population growth across the islands.
• O'ahu's chief Haka set a new trend by redistributing land to consolidate power.
• Elites implemented taxation to maintain control over a growing labor force.

3. The Arrival of Europeans: A Turning Point

The arrival of Captain James Cook in 1778 marked a monumental shift for Hawaii’s politics and economy. From trade relationships to deadly diseases introduced by Europeans, the lives of Native Hawaiians changed irreversibly.

Trade boomed with the sandalwood and later the whaling industry, pulling people away from rural livelihoods and into urban centers like Honolulu. At the same time, European diseases decimated the Native Hawaiian population, killing up to 80 percent over the following decades. This loss destabilized traditional social roles and weakened ties to the land.

King Kamehameha I leveraged access to European weapons and technology to unite six out of eight major islands, consolidating power under his dominion. This process further altered Hawaii’s social structure and paved the way for the introduction of private property under the Māhele.

Examples

• Hawaiian sandalwood became a highly sought-after good in trade with China.
• The Native Hawaiian population declined rapidly due to European-introduced diseases.
• Kamehameha I unified the islands using guns acquired from Western traders.

4. The Māhele and the Birth of Land Ownership

The 1848 Māhele introduced the concept of private property, drastically altering landholding traditions. While designed to distribute land among the monarchy, ali'i, and commoners, its implementation wasn’t favorable to ordinary Hawaiians.

Many maka'āinana failed to claim land due to lack of communication and unfamiliarity with the idea of property ownership. The unused land was subsequently sold to the government, allowing foreign investors and sugar enterprises to profit. This shift marked the rise of Hawaii as an economy focused on sugarcane production and the eventual dominance of the Big Sugar companies.

Foreign investors partnered with local elites to lease or purchase land for agricultural purposes. This empowered businesses to expand significantly, linking Hawaii’s economy further to American markets.

Examples

• The introduction of property registration confused many maka'āinana.
• Sugar trade partnerships between Western investors and ali'i bloomed post-Māhele.
• By the 1850s, Hawaiian exports were dominated by sugar heading to the US.

5. Colonial Overthrow of the Hawaiian Monarchy

Economic pressures and political meddling by sugar corporations and the US government led to the overthrow of Hawaii’s monarchy in the late nineteenth century. The Bayonet Constitution of 1887 weakened the monarchy, while a later economic depression triggered calls for annexation.

In 1893, Queen Lili’uokalani was overthrown by white businessmen with support from US forces. This culminated with Hawaii’s annexation in 1900 and reinforced the dominance of sugar plantations under corporations backed by American interests.

The transition from monarchy to colonization resulted in further dispossession of Native Hawaiian lands, with expropriation heavily favoring sugar and pineapple growers.

Examples

• The 1887 Bayonet Constitution limited royal powers significantly.
• The US imposed tariffs, collapsing Hawaii’s economy by 38 percent in one day.
• Troops from the USS Boston supported the coup against Queen Lili’uokalani.

6. Power of the Big Five Corporations

The Big Five emerged as an oligarchic force in Hawaii during the early 20th century, controlling major industries like sugar, shipping, and finance. These corporations acted as de facto governing entities, providing housing, healthcare, and schools to workers.

Despite Hawaii's integration into the US political system, its economy was still run by elite networks rooted in the sugar and pineapple industries. Political power was skewed toward rural districts where plantation owners held sway, minimizing the influence of Native Hawaiian voters concentrated in urban centers.

Those aligned with the oligarchic elite enjoyed privileges, while the broader Hawaiian population struggled for representation in legislative decisions.

Examples

• The Big Five controlled most economic sectors, from shipping to insurance.
• Rural districts, dominated by white landowners, had disproportionate legislative influence.
• Urban Native Hawaiians remained underrepresented despite being US citizens.

7. Federal Representation and Statehood

Hawaii achieved statehood in 1959, granting its residents political representation in Congress. The move was propelled by a combination of local organizing, economic pressures, and national party politics.

Statehood was groundbreaking for marginalized communities, especially Asian-Americans and Native Hawaiians. Figures like Senator Daniel Inouye championed legislation that brought additional federal funding and promoted civil rights on behalf of Hawaii.

Although statehood added vibrant democratic reforms to the islands, debates over Native sovereignty and the legacy of economic exploitation remained unresolved.

Examples

• Hawaii’s population gained federal representation with two senators and a representative.
• Asian-American hero Daniel Inouye became a key voice in Congress.
• Hawaii’s new constitution demonstrated the residents’ readiness for self-government.

8. Land Reforms to Aid Residents

The Land Reform Act (LRA), passed in 1967, aimed to empower homeowners by allowing them to purchase leased land. This act reduced the influence of leasehold contracts tied to big landowners.

Although the process took decades and faced legal challenges, many families eventually gained deeds to the land under their homes. This reform helped distribute landownership more widely, giving people a greater stake in Hawaii’s economy and politics.

Despite its impact, land prices remained high, and questions persist about whether the LRA served economic equity or enhanced democratic stability by expanding property rights.

Examples

• Over 23,000 homeowners bought land through the LRA beginning in 1991.
• The LRA reduced the economic clout of the Big Five.
• Ruling on the LRA went as far as the US Supreme Court.

9. The Enduring Struggle for Hawaiian Sovereignty

Throughout its history, Hawaii’s society has grappled with the loss of sovereignty and the marginalization of its Native population. Although political rights have expanded significantly, the deep inequalities seeded during the colonial era endure.

Many Native Hawaiians face challenges like limited access to land, low socioeconomic status, and cultural suppression. Solutions such as the Hawaiian Homes Commission have fallen short of righting past wrongs, leaving the community to continue advocating for reforms.

Debates about restitution, self-determination, and cultural preservation remain central to Hawaii’s narrative today.

Examples

• Native Hawaiians have consistently ranked lowest in employment and education in Hawaii.
• The Hawaiian Homes Commission failed to give sufficient land access.
• Advocacy groups work toward reclaiming stolen lands and promoting cultural traditions.

Takeaways

1. Advocate for equitable land reforms by supporting policies that target redistribution and housing affordability in communities with inequality histories.
2. Learn from Hawaii's history to understand how economic systems can transform cultures and relationships between people and governments.
3. Support sovereignty efforts for Indigenous communities, respecting their right to self-determination and restitution for historic harms.