Difference between revisions of "Hawaii"
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In 1887, under the influence of Walter M. Gibson, a group of primarily American and European businessmen, including kingdom subjects and members of the Hawaiian government forced Kalākaua to sign the derisively nicknamed "Bayonet Constitution" which stripped the king of administrative authority, eliminated voting rights for Asians and set minimum income and property requirements for American, European and native Hawaiian voters, essentially limiting the electorate to wealthy elite Americans, Europeans and native Hawaiians. King Kalakaua reigned until his death in 1891. His sister, Liliuokalani (Liliʻuokalani), succeeded him to the throne and ruled until her overthrow in 1893. | In 1887, under the influence of Walter M. Gibson, a group of primarily American and European businessmen, including kingdom subjects and members of the Hawaiian government forced Kalākaua to sign the derisively nicknamed "Bayonet Constitution" which stripped the king of administrative authority, eliminated voting rights for Asians and set minimum income and property requirements for American, European and native Hawaiian voters, essentially limiting the electorate to wealthy elite Americans, Europeans and native Hawaiians. King Kalakaua reigned until his death in 1891. His sister, Liliuokalani (Liliʻuokalani), succeeded him to the throne and ruled until her overthrow in 1893. | ||
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| + | In 1893, Queen Liliuokalani announced plans to establish a new constitution that would have replaced the so-called "Bayonet Constitution" that was established during the reign of King Kalakaua by American and European residents under threat of violence. The new constitution would have restored much power to the monarchy, but this was opposed by (mainly foreign) business elites. On January 14, 1893, a group of American and Europeans formed a Committee of Safety in opposition to the Queen, and seized control of government. United States Government Minister John L. Stevens, responding to a request from the Committee of Safety expressing concern about possible violence directed against American citizens, summoned a company of uniformed U.S. Marines to come ashore to enforce neutrality. As one historian noted, the presence of these troops effectively made it impossible for the monarchy to protect itself.[14] | ||
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| + | The overthrow of Queen Liliuokalani was successful and the monarchy ended in January 1893. It was replaced by a Provisional Government composed of members of the Committee of Safety. There was much controversy in the following years as the queen tried to regain her throne. The administration of President Grover Cleveland commissioned the Blount Report, which concluded that the overthrow of Liliʻuokalani was illegal. The U.S. Government first demanded that Queen Liliʻuokalani be reinstated, but the Provisional Government refused. Congress responded to Cleveland's referral with another investigation, and submitted the Morgan Report by the U.S. Senate on February 26, 1894, which found all parties (including Minister Stevens) with the exception of the queen "not guilty" from any responsibility for the overthrow.[15] The accuracy and impartiality of both the Blount and Morgan reports has been questioned by partisans on both sides of the historical debate over the events of 1893.[16][17][18][19] | ||
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| + | In 1993, a joint Apology Resolution regarding the overthrow was passed by Congress and signed by President Clinton, apologizing for the overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom.[20] | ||
Hawaii was attacked by Japan on December 7, 1941 at [[Pearl Harbor]]. This resulted in the death of many Americans and brought the United States into [[World War Two]]. The people of Hawaii were very helpful in the eventual American victory. | Hawaii was attacked by Japan on December 7, 1941 at [[Pearl Harbor]]. This resulted in the death of many Americans and brought the United States into [[World War Two]]. The people of Hawaii were very helpful in the eventual American victory. | ||
Revision as of 15:42, May 9, 2008
| Capital | Honolulu |
|---|---|
| Nickname | The Aloha State |
| Official Language | English |
| Governor | Linda Lingle, R |
| Senator | Daniel Inouye, D {{{s1phone}}} [{{{s1email}}}] |
| Senator | Daniel Akaka, D {{{s2phone}}} [{{{s2email }}}] |
| Population | 1,211,537 |
| Ratification of Constitution/or statehood | August 21, 1959 (50th) |
| Flag of Hawaii | Motto: "Ua mau ke ea o ka aina I ka pono" (The life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness) |
Hawaii (Hawaiian: Hawai'i) is a part of the United States of America. It became a state on August 21st, 1959, and was the fiftieth (and last) state to enter into the union. In 2005 it had a population of 1,275,194 on 6,423 square miles of land. [1] It is located in the Pacific Ocean west and south of the mainland of the United States. The main Hawaiian islands are (east to west) Hawai'i (or 'the Big Island'), Maui, Kaho'olawe, Moloka'i, Lana'i, O'ahu, Kaua'i and Ni'ihau. The state capital, Honolulu, and Pearl Harbor are both on the island of Oahu. The origin of the name Hawai'i is obscure. It could be derived from the Polynesian Owhyii, 'Place of the Gods', or from Hawaiki (the former name of Raiatea in the Society Islands), or may have the meaning 'Homeland'.[2]
History
European discovery of the Hawaiian Islands was by Captain James Cook in 1778. The native Hawaiians were Polynesians and worshiped tiki gods. In the decades after Cook's visit the islands were united under one chief and eventually became a Christian kingdom through the help of missionaries.
Hawaii became united under King Kamehameha I who forced all independent kingdoms in the Hawaiian Islands to join a Hawaiian Kingdom under his rule. He did not do this via diplomacy or by elections. He did it by conquest.
The Hawaiian Kingdom flourished throughout the 19th century with several monarchs. It became increasingly westernized. This modernization of Hawaiian society eventually lead to the Hawaiian Revolution of 1893 when Hawaiian citizens (many of western descent) overthrew Queen Liliuokalani in response to her attempt to unilaterally impose a new constitution increasing her power. The revolution was successful with the loss of no life. The new Hawaiian government was set up as the Republic of Hawaii and it was recognized by every nation which had recognized the Hawaiian Kingdom.
In 1887, under the influence of Walter M. Gibson, a group of primarily American and European businessmen, including kingdom subjects and members of the Hawaiian government forced Kalākaua to sign the derisively nicknamed "Bayonet Constitution" which stripped the king of administrative authority, eliminated voting rights for Asians and set minimum income and property requirements for American, European and native Hawaiian voters, essentially limiting the electorate to wealthy elite Americans, Europeans and native Hawaiians. King Kalakaua reigned until his death in 1891. His sister, Liliuokalani (Liliʻuokalani), succeeded him to the throne and ruled until her overthrow in 1893.
In 1893, Queen Liliuokalani announced plans to establish a new constitution that would have replaced the so-called "Bayonet Constitution" that was established during the reign of King Kalakaua by American and European residents under threat of violence. The new constitution would have restored much power to the monarchy, but this was opposed by (mainly foreign) business elites. On January 14, 1893, a group of American and Europeans formed a Committee of Safety in opposition to the Queen, and seized control of government. United States Government Minister John L. Stevens, responding to a request from the Committee of Safety expressing concern about possible violence directed against American citizens, summoned a company of uniformed U.S. Marines to come ashore to enforce neutrality. As one historian noted, the presence of these troops effectively made it impossible for the monarchy to protect itself.[14]
The overthrow of Queen Liliuokalani was successful and the monarchy ended in January 1893. It was replaced by a Provisional Government composed of members of the Committee of Safety. There was much controversy in the following years as the queen tried to regain her throne. The administration of President Grover Cleveland commissioned the Blount Report, which concluded that the overthrow of Liliʻuokalani was illegal. The U.S. Government first demanded that Queen Liliʻuokalani be reinstated, but the Provisional Government refused. Congress responded to Cleveland's referral with another investigation, and submitted the Morgan Report by the U.S. Senate on February 26, 1894, which found all parties (including Minister Stevens) with the exception of the queen "not guilty" from any responsibility for the overthrow.[15] The accuracy and impartiality of both the Blount and Morgan reports has been questioned by partisans on both sides of the historical debate over the events of 1893.[16][17][18][19]
In 1993, a joint Apology Resolution regarding the overthrow was passed by Congress and signed by President Clinton, apologizing for the overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom.[20]
Hawaii was attacked by Japan on December 7, 1941 at Pearl Harbor. This resulted in the death of many Americans and brought the United States into World War Two. The people of Hawaii were very helpful in the eventual American victory.
Hawaiian citizens voted overwhelmingly (93%) to join the USA. It was accordingly added as the 50th American state in 1959. The United Nations recognized this as legal under international law by removing Hawaii from the list of non self-governing territories.
Politics
Since statehood, Hawaii has been dominated by the Democratic Party. John Kerry carried the state electoral vote in 2004 and the entire Congressional delegation is made up of Democrats. The Republican Party has made some recent progress with the current governor being a Republican. There is also a small separatist movement on the islands which wishes to have Hawaii secede from the USA and form an independent Hawaiian nation. Proponents of this course argue that Hawaii was illegally annexed and should be "restored" to nationhood. The overwhelmingly majority of Hawaiians do not support this view and the separatists remain a small but vocal minority.
Hawaii offers a limited number of benifits to same sex couples, but has stopped short of offering domestic partnerships.
Religion
Church Membership (as of 1999)[3]
- Roman Catholic: 17.7%
- Buddhist: 8.3%
- Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon): 4.6%
- United Church of Christ: 1.6%
- Southern Baptist: 1.4%
- Assembly of God: 0.9%
- Judaism: 0.8%
- Episcopal: 0.8%
- United Methodist: 0.6%
- Lutheran: 0.5%
Tourism
Hawaii is the United States' only state in the tropics (i.e., south of the Tropic of Cancer) and a popular tourist attraction known for its beaches, surf, volcanoes, and Polynesian history.
Trivia
Hawaii is the only U.S. state which grows coffee or pineapples.
Sources
See also
References
- ↑ http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0108204.html
- ↑ Concise Dictionary of World Place-Names (Oxford 2005) p210
- ↑ http://www.hawaii.gov/dbedt/info/economic/databook/db2000/ The State of Hawaii Data Book 2000
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