Hawaiians

Hawaiians

By: Rebecca J. Athey

University of Phoenix Axia College

Hawaiians

Around 300 and 500 A.D. descendants of Polynesians finally reached the islands known as Hawaii. There are eight major and 124 minor islands that make up Hawaii. The Hawaiians named the largest island Havaiki after a major island from their former home. Hawaiians viewed their land as property to everyone and lived peacefully until 1778. In 1778 English explorer James Cook arrived. With his arrival came plantation operators, missionaries, and European immigrants. Hawaiians tolerated the new atmosphere that came with the Europeans, but it was not long after their arrival that diseases started to spread. The population of the fully-blooded Hawaiians became scarce. Even though the Hawaiian population was decreasing the population of Hawaii was not. The Hawaii islands were full of all different types of immigrants. Laborers were imported from Portugal, Japan, China, Philippines, Korea and Puerto Rico to work at the sugarcane plantations. Due to the ethnic variety there were many opportunities for cultural exchange which allowed Hawaii to be known for its good race relations.

Hawaiians were united under a monarchy which allowed them to receive respect from the European immigrants. This respect later turned into a spirit of goodwill. Hawaiians interacted with all different types of immigrants which allowed them to experience many different types of cultures. Slavery was never introduced to the Hawaiians. All the different races that are located on the island have allowed the people to have racial harmony. Thanks to the racial harmony Hawaiians and the others located on the island did not have to go through the many forms of discrimination like other racial groups.

In 1893 the United States officially annexed Hawaii. It was not until December 7, 1941 did the United States involvement with Hawaii escalate. When Japan bomb Pearl Harbor the islands were used for rest and...