History and culture of Hawaii

The joy and good energy that is perceived in the islands is partly due to the impact that the history and culture of Hawaii has on its visitors. When you travel to the “Aloha State” you will find beautiful beaches, dreamlike landscapes and also a charming local population. Learn about the Polynesian roots of this place, the historical events and how it was transformed over time.

The Polynesian origin

Archaeologists estimate that the first to settle in the Hawaiian archipelago were Polynesian settlers who arrived from the Marquesas Islands around 300 AD. But it was not until the 11th century when a large migration from other Pacific islands such as Bora Bora and Tahiti arrived, which allowed for great population growth.

These groups of people occupied the different islands, displaying their traditions, their religious practices – they were polytheistic and animistic – and even made their own language flourish: Hawaiian, which comes from Fijian.

In those early days, they were organized on each island with local chiefs who imposed laws based on a code of conduct, called kapu, whose foundations were religious morality. Their main gods were Kane (the most important, associated with the Sun and the creation of the world), Kanaloa (god of the ocean), Ku (god of war) and Lono (of fertility and music).

The Kingdom of Hawaii

At the end of the 18th century, with the arrival of some European expeditions to the islands, the population of Hawaii was affected by diseases that reduced its population by half. At that time of crisis, multiple clashes for power arose between local leaders, culminating in the election of Kamehameha I as King of Hawaii.

In 1810, the monarchy was officially established with all the islands unified in the same kingdom. That moment was of great historical importance because from then on, the development of Hawaiian culture began to be promoted through the written language, music, crafts and hula dancing.

So important were the achievements of King Kamehameha I that he is currently remembered by celebrating, every June 11 of each year, a day of celebration in his honor that is among the unmissable festivities in Hawaii.

Years later, with the death of Kamehameha V in 1872, and with no heirs to the throne, the legislature elected a new king: William Lunalilo, who died almost a year after assuming office. The new elections were won by Kalakaua, who defeated Queen Emma, ​​widow of Kamehameha IV. Pressured by the influence of foreign businessmen, this new king signed a constitutional reform that took power away from the monarchy and favored foreign businesses.

The kingdom finally fell in 1893 when a group of European and American businessmen overthrew Liliuokalani, the last Hawaiian monarch, in a coup d’état and established the Republic of Hawaii.

Learn about Hawaii’s history and culture through its Western influence

Hawaii’s first connections with Europeans occurred in 1778 when British ships, led by James Cook, arrived at the islands on an expedition. In an attempt to kidnap the chief of the main island, the expeditionaries confronted the natives, who murdered Captain Cook and managed to force the ships to abandon the island. Upon returning to Europe, they notified the world of the existence of this archipelago and the news produced enormous interest due to its strategic geographic location.

The Europeans arrived on new expeditions and with them also came diseases that caused many deaths in the local population, which was reduced by half. However, British influence grew thanks to trade exchanges and was so important that even the flag of the United Kingdom is part of the Hawaiian flag, which is still used today.

From the beginning of the 19th century, American missionaries began to arrive and, little by little, Christianized a large part of the local population, causing enormous social changes at the educational, technological and religious levels that transformed the history and culture of Hawaii.

In 1840, the Christian religion became official at the same time that the Hawaiian monarchy went from being absolute to constitutional. These events produced a notable rapprochement and increase in the interest of the United States in Hawaii.

The annexation to the United States

After the fall of the Kingdom of Hawaii, a provisional government of the American business oligarchy was established with the objective of annexing the territory to the United States. However, the government of President Cleveland opposed this because it considered the overthrow of the monarchical authorities illegal.

It was not until 1898 that the United States finally became the official government.

Finally, President William McKinley gave in to the businessmen and on July 7 the annexation that they had been seeking took place. American interests were initially focused on controlling the sugar cane trade, although it later ended up being an ideal site for military operations and tourist ventures.

The annexation of Hawaii to the United States ended up profoundly changing the lifestyle of the Hawaiian people. Economic investments and commercial projects led to a large immigration from other countries, increasingly reducing the percentage of native peoples.

In 1941, the Pearl Harbor naval base on the island of Oahu suffered an attack by the Japanese Navy that left more than 2,400 dead and led to the entry of the United States into World War II on the side of the Allies. Today there is the USS Arizona Memorial, which commemorates that event and visiting it is one of the most popular activities to do in Hawaii.

Far from the heyday of the Kingdom and with a constantly growing economy, Hawaiian society was changing towards a more Western way of life and adopting American customs. Through a referendum of the population, which obtained 94% of the votes in favor, Hawaii became the 50th state of the United States on August 21, 1959.

Resurgence and Hawaiian culture today

For many centuries Hawaii was a sovereign people that forged a cultural identity based on nature, spirituality and physical well-being. The irruption of foreign businessmen, sailors and merchants had devastating effects on that culture, especially after the fall of the Kingdom. Events such as the prohibition of hula and the use of the Hawaiian language in schools and state buildings caused a great deterioration of the local culture.

Today there are many activists and community leaders who are responsible for protecting the heritage of Hawaiian history and culture. In recent years, there has been a growing interest in learning the native language, dance, music and crafts. Hula dancing is of great relevance, as it is not just a mere entertainment show but a representation of aspects of nature and human emotions.

Thanks to the resilience and cultural preservation work of many people, there is now a cultural resurgence in the archipelago where the true essence of its identity is manifested and which you can discover thanks to the hospitality of the Hawaiians.

If you want to learn more about the history and culture of Hawaii, don’t miss the travel itineraries that our specialists at We Travel USA have prepared for you with unmissable places that will bring you an unforgettable Hawaiian experience.