Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 15, Number 1, 1 January 1998 — ANNEXATION: FROM CELEBRATION TO CONDEMNATION [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

ANNEXATION: FROM CELEBRATION TO CONDEMNATION

By Manu Boyd ĪHIS AUGUST, the centennial of the annexation of Hawai'i to the United States of Amenea in 1 898 will be commemorated. For some, it will be a patriotic American eelebration of 19th century territorial expansion and military prowess. For others, it will be a somber reminder of the near demise of a proud, ancient people, and the loss of an independent, internationally recognized kingdom. The genocidal effecl on the indigenous popu

lation, "ko Hawai'i pono'ī," of events before, during and after annexation, linger today. Hawaiians, according to some sources, now number more than 200,000, though we are outnumbered four-to-one by other state residents and nearly 30-to-

one if you count annual visitors to Hawai'i. Our culture, nevertheless, perseveres, as we eonhnue to draw ffom the past in order to shape our future. Why was Hawai'i annexed to the United States? How? Who benefit-

ted from annexation? Did the population in 1 898, overwhelmingly 'ōiwi (native), vote for annexation? What events lead to the annexation? These and other questions will be addressed in a series of Ka Wai Ola o OHA articles. Achronological time line illustrates some of the events preceding the overthrow of the Kingdom and Hawai'i's loss of independence. While some historical time lines begin when Capt. James Cook arrived in the islands in 1778, we

acknowledge the nearly two thousand years of previous civilization, as well as the genealogical and mythical origins of our people through the Kumulipo genealogy, Hāloa the ancestor, and Hāloa the kalo (taro). ■

SOMBER GATHERING - Oueen Lili'uokalani (seated), Heir Apparent Princess Victoria Ka'iulani (to the Queen's left) and s supporters gather at Washington Plaee as Annexation ceremonies were conducted at 'lolani Palaee.

- f|lē p'HCTO