Hawaiian Studies Unit 7 Review: Kamehameha Dynasty and 19th Century Hawaiʻi

Origins of the Kamehameha Dynasty

• Kamehameha I, also known as Kamehameha the Great, founded the Kamehameha Dynasty in the late 18th century
• Born in North Kohala on the island of Hawaiʻi around 1736 to high-ranking aliʻi (chiefs) Keoua and Kekuʻiapoiwa II
• Kamehameha I unified the Hawaiian Islands under a single rule through a series of battles and alliances
  • Utilized European weapons and military strategies to gain an advantage over rival chiefs
  • Decisive victory at the Battle of Nuʻuanu in 1795 solidified his control over Oʻahu
• The Kamehameha Dynasty ruled the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi from 1795 until the overthrow of the monarchy in 1893
• Kamehameha I established a centralized government and implemented the concept of private land ownership (Great Māhele)
• The dynasty promoted the adoption of Western technologies, education, and religious practices while preserving Hawaiian cultural traditions

Key Figures and Their Roles

• Kamehameha I (r. 1795-1819): Founder of the Kamehameha Dynasty, unified the Hawaiian Islands, and established a strong centralized government
• Kamehameha II (Liholiho) (r. 1819-1824): Son of Kamehameha I, ended the kapu system and allowed the spread of Christianity
• Kaʻahumanu: Favorite wife of Kamehameha I, served as kuhina nui (regent) during the reigns of Kamehameha II and III, played a crucial role in the abolition of the kapu system
  • Supported the spread of Christianity and the adoption of Western dress and customs
• Kamehameha III (Kauikeaouli) (r. 1825-1854): Son of Kamehameha I, longest-reigning monarch of the Kamehameha Dynasty, introduced the first Hawaiian Constitution in 1840
  • Oversaw the Great Māhele, which introduced private land ownership in Hawaiʻi
• Bernice Pauahi Bishop: Great-granddaughter of Kamehameha I, philanthropist, founded the Kamehameha Schools to provide education for Hawaiian children
• Kamehameha IV (Alexander ʻIolani Liholiho) (r. 1855-1863) and Queen Emma: Established the Queen's Hospital (now The Queen's Medical Center) to address public health issues

Political Landscape of 19th Century Hawaiʻi

• The Hawaiian Kingdom transitioned from an absolute monarchy to a constitutional monarchy during the 19th century
  • The first Hawaiian Constitution was introduced in 1840 under Kamehameha III, followed by subsequent constitutions in 1852, 1864, and 1887
• The Great Māhele (1848) introduced private land ownership, dividing land among the king, chiefs, and commoners
  • This change in land tenure had significant implications for Hawaiian society and economy
• The influence of foreign powers, particularly the United States, Great Britain, and France, increased throughout the 19th century
  • These nations sought to protect their economic and strategic interests in the Hawaiian Islands
• The Bayonet Constitution (1887) was forced upon King Kalākaua by foreign business interests, limiting the power of the monarchy and extending voting rights to non-Hawaiians
• The overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom in 1893 by American businessmen and annexation of Hawaiʻi by the United States in 1898 marked the end of the monarchy and Hawaiian sovereignty
• The Hawaiian Homes Commission Act (1920) was passed by the U.S. Congress to provide land leases for Native Hawaiians, but its effectiveness has been debated

Social and Cultural Changes

• The arrival of Western missionaries in the early 19th century led to the spread of Christianity and the decline of traditional Hawaiian religious practices
  • The kapu system, a set of sacred laws and prohibitions, was abolished in 1819 under the influence of Kaʻahumanu and Kamehameha II
• The Hawaiian language was first written down using a standardized alphabet developed by missionaries in the 1820s
  • The establishment of schools and the translation of the Bible into Hawaiian contributed to the spread of literacy
• The introduction of Western diseases, such as smallpox and measles, had a devastating impact on the Native Hawaiian population
  • The population declined from an estimated 300,000-800,000 in 1778 to about 40,000 by the end of the 19th century
• Western influence led to changes in clothing, housing, and other aspects of daily life
  • Traditional Hawaiian dress was largely replaced by Western-style clothing
  • Hale pili (thatched houses) were gradually replaced by wooden structures
• The hula, a traditional Hawaiian dance, underwent changes as it was adapted for public performances and tourist audiences
• The Hawaiian language and cultural practices faced suppression and decline, particularly after the overthrow of the monarchy and annexation by the United States

Economic Developments

• The sandalwood trade, which began in the early 19th century, was the first major export industry in Hawaiʻi
  • The high demand for sandalwood in China led to the rapid depletion of the resource and the accumulation of debt by Hawaiian chiefs
• The whaling industry became a significant economic driver in the mid-19th century, with Hawaiʻi serving as a major provisioning port for whaling ships
  • The decline of the whaling industry in the 1860s due to the rise of petroleum and the American Civil War had a significant impact on the Hawaiian economy
• The sugar industry emerged as the dominant economic force in the latter half of the 19th century
  • The establishment of sugar plantations, largely owned by American businessmen, led to the importation of contract laborers from Asia and Europe
  • The sugar industry's demand for land and water resources had significant implications for Native Hawaiian communities
• The Reciprocity Treaty of 1875 between the United States and the Hawaiian Kingdom allowed for duty-free trade of Hawaiian sugar, further boosting the industry
• The rise of the sugar industry contributed to the increasing political influence of foreign business interests in Hawaiʻi
• The development of tourism began in the late 19th century, with the opening of the first hotel, the Hawaiian Hotel, in 1872

Foreign Influences and Interactions

• The arrival of Captain James Cook in 1778 marked the beginning of regular contact between Hawaiʻi and the Western world
• American missionaries, who first arrived in 1820, had a profound impact on Hawaiian society, religion, and education
  • They developed a written Hawaiian language, established schools, and converted many Hawaiians to Christianity
• The United States, Great Britain, and France vied for influence in Hawaiʻi throughout the 19th century
  • These nations sought to protect their economic and strategic interests, particularly in relation to the sugar industry and the use of Hawaiian ports
• The French Incident (1839) and the British Occupation (1843) highlighted the vulnerability of Hawaiian sovereignty to foreign intervention
• The United States gradually increased its political and economic control over Hawaiʻi, culminating in the overthrow of the monarchy in 1893 and annexation in 1898
  • American businessmen, supported by U.S. military forces, played a central role in the overthrow of Queen Liliʻuokalani
• The influx of foreign laborers, primarily from China, Japan, and Portugal, to work on sugar plantations led to the development of a multi-ethnic society in Hawaiʻi
• The influence of foreign powers on Hawaiian politics and economy contributed to the erosion of Native Hawaiian land rights and political autonomy

Legacy and Impact on Modern Hawaiʻi

• The Kamehameha Dynasty laid the foundation for the modern Hawaiian state through the unification of the islands and the establishment of a centralized government
• The introduction of private land ownership during the Great Māhele has had long-lasting effects on Native Hawaiian land rights and access
  • Many Native Hawaiians lost access to traditional lands, leading to ongoing disputes and the Hawaiian sovereignty movement
• The overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom and annexation by the United States remains a source of controversy and has fueled the Hawaiian sovereignty movement
  • Efforts to restore Hawaiian sovereignty and self-determination continue to this day
• The suppression of the Hawaiian language and cultural practices during the 19th and early 20th centuries has led to a cultural renaissance movement focused on revitalizing and preserving Hawaiian heritage
• The Kamehameha Schools, founded by Bernice Pauahi Bishop, continue to provide education for Native Hawaiian children and perpetuate Hawaiian culture
• The legacy of the sugar industry and the importation of foreign laborers has contributed to the diverse, multi-ethnic character of modern Hawaiian society
• The tourism industry, which has its roots in the late 19th century, remains a major economic driver in Hawaiʻi, but also raises concerns about the commodification of Hawaiian culture and the impact on local communities

Key Debates and Controversies

• The role of foreign powers, particularly the United States, in the overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom and the erosion of Hawaiian sovereignty
  • Some argue that the U.S. government should formally apologize for its role in the overthrow and provide reparations to Native Hawaiians
• The impact of the Great Māhele and the introduction of private land ownership on Native Hawaiian land rights and access
  • Critics argue that the Great Māhele disproportionately benefited foreign interests and dispossessed many Native Hawaiians of their ancestral lands
• The effectiveness of the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act in providing land and housing for Native Hawaiians
  • Some argue that the act has failed to adequately address the housing and land needs of Native Hawaiians and that the program has been underfunded and mismanaged
• The commodification of Hawaiian culture and the impact of tourism on local communities
  • Critics argue that the tourism industry exploits Hawaiian culture and places a strain on local resources and infrastructure
• The preservation and revitalization of the Hawaiian language and cultural practices
  • Efforts to promote Hawaiian language education and cultural programs have been met with both support and resistance
• The Hawaiian sovereignty movement and the push for self-determination and independence
  • Supporters argue that Native Hawaiians have an inherent right to self-determination and that the overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom was illegal under international law
  • Opponents argue that Hawaiʻi is an integral part of the United States and that independence is not feasible or desirable