000:22 Pacific Diaries
“With courage to brave the unknown seas, my ancestors launched their canoes and dreams in search of a land they would call Hawaii. It is to you, whose spirit enfolds me like a strong yet gentle wind that I ask to lift my voice and carry it far. I am a child of Hawaii a descedant of High Chiefs, astronomers, philosophers and teachers. I have a story to tell, a story vastly different from the one commonly known.”
001:44 THEN THERE WERE NONE
001:51 “1778 over 500,000 pure Hawaiians”
“Our once thriving culture was rooted in the spiritual understanding that there was no separation between god, man and earth.”
By the late 1700s land that was considered sacred was bought and sold by pioneer settlers. Thousands of Hawaiians died of infections from which they had no immunity.
002:56 “1821 - 230,00 pure Hawaiians”
Members of the American Board for foreign missions came to Hawaii to preach and established a lasting American presence. In 1893 Hawaii was overthrown in a bloodless coup by a group of foreign businessmen and missionary descendants. They were supported by he United States minister to Hawaii and armed marines from the gun ship Boston.
After an unsuccessful counter revolution Queen Lili’uokalani was arrested and imprisoned. Upon her release she went to Washington for help. [President Cleveland] directed Congress to restore her to her throne, but William McKinley became President before Congress could act, ignored her pleas and she was eventually forced to sign a decree of abdication. Five years later Congress officially annexed Hawaii as a US territory.
The American navy took control and Governor Dole was the first American governor of Hawaii by President McKinley. However the Hawaiian people were never consulted in any of this.
005:17 “Voice of JON KAMAKAWIWO’OLE OSORIO - Centre for Hawaiian Studies University of Hawaii”
Speaks of how the queen was dispossessed not only of her power and her rule, but also of her lands.
006:17 1893 - 40,000 pure Hawaiians”
Gradually the Hawaiian people were pushed to the background, explored and accepted Christian beliefs, but in the process nearly destroyed their own. Most Hawaiian children were taught farming and homemaking where as children from the missionary and other privileged homes were taught the arts, letters and the sciences which were to prepare them for future leadership.
008:09 “1922 - 22,000 pure Hawaiians”
Moving into the 20th Century developers were quick to transform the land. Taro patches gave way to hotels and tourists resorts.
009:00 “Voice of HONU HUIHUI Ka Lahuihui Member”
“I’ve seen the taro patches, I’ve seen them do away with the taro patches and build homes in the Waikiki area that we could never afford to live in. As hotels went up they cordoned off the beaches and told us that we could never go there no more.”
Sugar plantations controlled land and water resources and employed thousands of outsiders many of whom were imported from Japan, China, the Philippines and Portugal. This dramatically altered the Hawaiian ethnic complexion through intermarriage. Ownership of lands changed hands from Hawaiians to outsiders. Those who inherited the greater shares were descendants of the original missionaries, who came to do good! and did well! This new shift in power created changes in social classes. Hawaiians who never knew prejudice, became its victim. Most Hawaiians found it impossible to join social clubs. The hula, was as a sacred and spiritual dance, now required licenses to ensure that it was done purely as entertainment and not a pagan religious practise as foreigners often called it.
016:44 “1959 - 12,245 pure Hawaiians”
021:42 “Voice of: PAULA AKANA News Anchor, KITV Honolulu”
023:48 “Voice of RACHEL TORTELINI, M.D.”
“Diabetes is skyrocketing at 197% more than any other ethnic group in the US as is infectious disease 103%. “
024:03 “1993 - 8,711 pure Hawaiians”
On January 17,1993 more than 10,000 people marched to Iolani Palace to recognise the 100th year of the forced abdication of the Nation. That same year Congress formerly apologised for the US Governments participation in the overthrow of the Hawaiian Monarchy. In 1995 President Clinton signed a bill restoring a portion of the land.
“This is a beginning. Like our ancestors before us who set their sails on unknown seas, we are now the voyagers. Through storm and calm we sail, guided by the wisdom of our ancestors which reminds us that whatever history has done, we are and will always be an unvanquished people.”
026:00 “By 2044 demographers predict there will not be a pure Hawaiian left.”