LECTURE - An Introduction to HAWAII

History of the 50th State. Within Hawaii, 7 of the 8 major islands are occupied but there are hundreds spread over 1500 miles (making them the World’s longest chain of islands) but most of which you can’t get to as they are either military locations or uninhabitable. Waikiki is not ALL of Hawaii, there is a lot more.

They were not all volcanic or the same age (see photo). Of course, Kona had an eruption yesterday… we will see what happens as we get there in 2 days. Pacific plates and hot spots are moving toward Hawaii and creating the eruptions. These eruptions left beautiful formations and scenery. The islands were uninhabited for thousands of years. Modern day Tahiti is where the Polynesians lived thousands of years ago until they began to travel and settle on the islands. They discovered the 7 islands that were inhabitable and they could plant crops and raise the animals they brought. Each island had a hierarchy of Chieftains and workers but did not have slavery. They had their own languages, religions and cultures and thriving society that evolved.

Menehune were a small scary people / race that existed. A race of people that was supposed to have come before the Polynesians. This may be folklore for taking credit for the infrastructure of the Islands that was but probably untrue making the Polynesians building of society here even more amazing.

In 1779 Cook took his first voyage and found Tahiti. From Tahiti to Hawaii connection breaks for 500 years once they become self-sufficient separate from Poynesian. Cook later voyages to discover New Zealand, Australia, Antarctica. He was looking for a Northwest passage, so he went back for a third voyage. He goes back to Tahiti first and finds Oahu, he finds inhabited, like Tahiti in culture but different, he maps the Hawaiian Islands, where he is welcomed because they thought he was a God they were “expecting”. He leaves Hawaii and then goes looking for or the NW Passage unsuccessfully and then he goes back to Hawaii for the Winter before going out to find the NW again but this time he is not welcomed but is killed in Hawaii.

The US is threatened that Hawaii could not stay independent because it may get taken over by Japan. So the US annexes it and replaces Hawaiian language with English. The area becomes an important stopover for those crossing the Pacific. Missionaries arrived and others took advantage of the Islands resources. Planting of sugar cane and pineapples was perfect for the Islands. There were no workers for harvesting so there is a large Japanese, Philippine, Chian and Korea arrival. Finally in 1959 Hawaii becomes the 50th State.

There was a rebirth of Polynesian culture for tourism growth. Infrastructure was put in place and no longer a stopover but a destination. Small industries (including even pineapple production) was taken over by tourism. Hawaiian culture, dance and language went from endangered to useful, taught in schools. Hula became very popular in the last 50 years. The Celestial navigation came back with replica of Polynesian double hull canoes by the Polynesian Voyaging Society was organized and does trips without any other navigation. The island that has NO tourists is NEEHOW, the forbidden Island because they will still not allow tourism there (2 brothers own it). It has a population of 200-300 people living in an authentic way and have preserved the Hawaiian way of life.

Tomorrow, we cover the important part of history left out ....PEARL HARBOR.Baca selengkapnya