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Hawaii record by yearHawaii record by year.Hawaii Statehood, August 21, 1959
The history of Hawaii describes the era of human settlements in the Hawaiian Islands. The islands were first settled by Polynesians sometime between and AD. An expedition led by British explorer James Cook is usually considered to be the first group of Europeans to arrive in the Hawaiian Islands, which they did in The Spanish named these islands "Isla de Mesa, de los Monjes y Desgraciada" , being on the route linking the Philippines with Mexico across the Pacific Ocean , between the ports of Acapulco and Manila, which were both part of New Spain.
The kingdom was prosperous and important for its agriculture and strategic location in the Pacific. American immigration, led by Protestant missionaries , and Native Hawaiian outmigration, mostly on whaling ships, began almost immediately after Cook's arrival.
Their methods of plantation farming required substantial labor. Waves of permanent immigrants came from Japan, China, and the Philippines to work in the fields. The government of Japan organized and gave special protection to its people, who comprised about 25 percent of the Hawaiian population by The population of Native Hawaiians in Hawaii declined from an unknown number prior to commonly estimated to be around , , to around , in the s based on the first census conducted by American missionaries, 82, in the Hawaiian Kingdom census, 40, in the last Hawaiian Kingdom census of , 39, in the only census by the Republic of Hawaii in , and 37, in the first census conducted by the United States in after the annexation of Hawaii to the United States in Since Hawaii has joined the United States the Native Hawaiian population in Hawaii has increased with every census to , in This gave a sizeable advantage to plantation owners.
Against the Queen's wishes, the Republic of Hawaii was formed for a short time. This government agreed on behalf of Hawaii to join the United States in as the Territory of Hawaii. In , the islands became the state of Hawaii.
The date of the first settlements of the Hawaiian Islands is a topic of continuing debate. Other theories suggest dates as late as to The history of the ancient Polynesians was passed down through genealogy chants that were recited at formal and family functions.
The genealogy of the high chiefs could be traced back to the period believed to be inhabited only by gods. By about , settlements founded along the perimeters of the islands were beginning to cultivate food in gardens. The new order included new laws and a new social structure that separated the people into classes. The system had rules regarding many aspects of Hawaiian social order, fishing rights and even where women could eat.
After the death of Kamehameha I, the system was abolished, and the Hawaiian religion soon fell as the gods were abandoned. By Hawaiians began to spread to the interiors of the islands and religion was more emphasized.
Prior to conquest by Kamehameha I, the islands did not have a single name, as each island was ruled as separate kingdoms known only by the island names. There were atheists, known as 'aia, in Hawaii. From their union came all others, including the other gods. Another genealogy declares that Ka-mai-eli and Kumu-honua were the mother and father.
One breakdown of the Kapu pantheon in Hawaii [23] consists of the following groups:. Another breakdown [24] consists of three major groups:. His line is traced to Hawaiian "creation". The couple met when Liloa was visiting Hamakua. He claimed his right to her as King and she accepted. Kiha had had four other sons, Kaunuamoa, Makaoku, Kepailiula and Hoolana, whose descendants are the Kaiakea family of Molokai , distant relatives of Abraham Fornander 's daughter.
Warriors engaged in the practice. The relationships cannot be defined as bisexuality. In many cases the men involved felt it an honor and responsibility to honor their hana lawelawe. To avoid his brother's anger, 'Umi exiled himself to another district. This was considered highly insulting. They resented their treatment and plotted to see the kingdom in someone else's hand. Many had a royal bloodline, land and could leave their temples as warriors when needed, but could never relinquish their spiritual responsibilities.
The two priests traveled to Waipunalei where they supported Umi's revolt. Liloa told Akahi that, if she were to have a male child, she should present the boy to him along with royal tokens he gave her as gifts, to prove her boy was the son of the king.
Akahi hid the tokens from her husband and later gave birth to a son. At the age of 15 or 16, his stepfather was punishing the boy when his mother intervened and told the man not to touch him because the boy was his lord and chief. She uncovered the tokens to present to her husband to prove the high treason he would have committed.
Akahi gave her son the royal malo and lei niho palaoa given to her by 'Umi's biological father. Only high chiefs wore these items. Liloa's palace was guarded and attended by several Kahuna. The entire enclosure was sacred. Entering without permission carried the death penalty.
Umi entered the enclosure with attendants afraid to stop someone wearing the royal insignia and walked straight to Liloa's sleeping quarters, waking him there. When Liloa asked who he was, he said "It is I, 'Umi your son". He then placed the tokens at his father's feet and Liloa proclaimed him to be his son. Liloa assured his first born that he would be king after his death and his brother would serve him. In exile, 'Umi took wives and began building forces and followers.
Chiefs began to believe him to be of the highest chiefly nature from signs they observed. He gave food to people and became known for caring for all. Eventually Umi conquered the entire island. After unifying the island of Hawaii, 'Umi was faithful to those who had supported him, and allowed his three most faithful companions, and the two Kahuna who had aided him, to help him govern.
Lieutenant James King stated that "all the chiefs had them" and recounts a tale that James Cook was actually asked by one chief to leave Lt. King behind, considering such offer a great honor. Members of Cook's crew related tales of the tradition with great disdain. American adventurer and sailor John Ledyard commented in detail about the tradition.
The traditional system of land has four hierarchical levels:. The Hawaiian agricultural system contained two major classes; irrigated and rain-fed dryland systems.
Irrigated systems mainly supported taro kalo cultivation. Rain-fed systems were known as the mala. The kukui tree Aleurites moluccanus was sometimes used as a shade to protect the mala from the sun. Hawaiians domesticated dogs, chickens and pigs. They also grew personal gardens at home. Water was a very important part of Hawaiian life; it was used for fishing, bathing, drinking, and gardening, and for aquaculture systems in the rivers and at the shore's edge.
The Hawaiians believed that the land, the sea, the clouds and all of nature had a certain interconnectedness which is why they used all of the resources around them to reach the desired balance in life. They also regulated the gathering of plants. These were individual plots of land that were cultivated by commoners who paid labor taxes to the land overseer each week.
These taxes went to support the chief. The Kingdom was administered by an ali'i chief. Ahupua'as were run by a headman or chief called a Konohiki. In Keelikolani vs Robinson, kononiki is defined as a Land Agent. In Territory vs Bishop Trust Co. The term could also be a designated area of land owned privately as compared to being owned by the government.
Often ali'i and konohiki are treated synonymously. However, while most konohiki were ali'i nobility, not all ali'i were konohiki. The Hawaiian dictionary defines konohiki as a headman of a land division, but also to describe fishing rights. Kono means to entice or prompt. Hiki refers to something that can be done. The konohiki was a relative of the ali'i and oversaw the property, managing water rights , land distribution , agricultural use and any maintenance.
The konohiki also ensured that the right amounts of gifts and tribute were properly made at the right times. As capitalism was incorporated into the kingdom, the konohiki became tax collectors, landlords and fishery wardens. In a triumph for women's equality, Hawaiians overthrew the kapu religious theocracy in by themselves, before the arrival of American missionaries and without the support of western powers like Great Britain, France, or the United States.
Queen Keopuolani also violated the prohibition even before the public breaking. Afterwards, Kamehameha II — with the support of his high priest Hewahewa — ordered the destruction of the ancient heiau temples.
Captain James Cook led three separate voyages to chart unknown areas of the globe for Great Britain. On 2 February , Cook continued on to the coast of the North American continent, searching for a Northwest Passage for approximately nine months. He returned to the Hawaii chain to resupply, initially exploring the coasts of Maui and Hawaii Island to trade. He anchored in Kealakekua Bay in January After departing Kealakekua, he returned in February after a ship's mast broke in bad weather. On 14 February Cook confronted an angry crowd.
The Kingdom of Hawaii lasted from until its overthrow in with the fall of the House of Kalakaua.
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