Most people know that Hawaii was the last region in North America to enter the union, but many don’t know the elaborate history of the islands prior to being annexed. In her book “Lost Kingdom: Hawaii’s Last Queen, the Sugar Kings, and America’s First Imperial Adventure,” author Julia Flynn Siler sheds light on the influential people and events that contributed to defining Hawaiian history and culture.
Siler depicts the ancient monarchy that ruled the islands for generations and illustrates how the U.S. controversially pushed the last Queen of Hawaii, Lili’uokalani, out of power for U.S. military and commercial interests. Patt takes a closer look at that island paradise, the battleground of empire that a queen and our current president have called home.
WEIGH IN:
How has Hawaiian culture changed since it became a state? How appropriate was it for the United States to annex Hawaii in light of the Congressional Apology Resolution and the Hawaiian sovereignty movement? What more should the U.S. do, if anything, to redeem itself to the indigenous people of Hawaii?
Guest:
Julia Flynn Siler, author of “Lost Kingdom: Hawaii’s Last Queen, the Sugar Kings, and America’s First Imperial Adventure”
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“Lost Kingdom” author Siler on KPCC6 comments to “Lost Kingdom” author Siler on KPCCLeave a ReplyYou must be logged in to post a comment. |
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Since when was Hawaii part of North America?
“How has Hawaiian culture changed since it became a state? How appropriate was it for the United States to annex Hawaii in light of the Congressional Apology Resolution and the Hawaiian sovereignty movement? What more should the U.S. do, if anything, to redeem itself to the indigenous people of Hawaii?”
Those sentences above are taken from the KPCC’s intro to its interview of the author. After listening to that interview and looking over her website briefly, I believe that Julia Flynn Siler says it right in her book, which I have not read. But her research, even written in English, becomes lost in translation when KPCC host Patt translates it as exemplified in that 3 sentence quote.
There’s a huge problem. Those sentences reflect assumptions as truths, in other words, the results of a U.S. version of Hawaii’s legal and political history are taken on face value. There is some good, however, if incisive editing good be done. So I ask, instead, how can we dialogue with people of good will who have not had the full opportunity to visualize Hawaii in today’s world as an independent country under prolonged illegal occupation by the United States as we have done?
What are the correct definitions of: state, annexation, indigenous people – as applied to Hawaii’s authentic status, yesterday, today, and tomorrow? We’ve got to push the envelope.
I feel almost overwhelmed myself that so many of us who have the Hawaiian Kingdom’s interests at heart have to continue repairing the situation instead of having the ability and strength to create a way forward that would return Hawaii to its rightful place and give it a chance to rebuild, based on Hawaiian Kingdom, international law, and aboriginal world view. Thank goodness for the enterprising youth who do not find it difficult to learn from kupuna and makua and likewise use their own ingenuity. IMUA.
Aloha, it’s Keahi again. In reading over my last post I see that part of what I wrote needs clarification. I want to say that as far as I know, the author of The Lost Kingdom was correct in what she wrote in her book about historical Hawaii, but that the way some of it is aired on the show is slanted.
We must be very careful not to ween the truth out of facts in order to try to make them understandable. We are fighting for the life of a country!
After all, the Hawaiian Kingdom was not lost. It’s been put on hold.
Aloha mai,
I’ve come across this article on the “Lost Kingdom”, and immediately I’m wondering if the presenter knows that the Kingdom of Hawai’i still exists?? As with any occupier, and their perhaps ignorant child. In this case the US in “an orgy of empire building”, the account must be weighed in light of an occupied people and country, i.e. The Hawaiian Kingdom. A people who did NOT invite the US, or encourage the Insurrectionists to invite a foriegn power, over 2000 miles away, to take over and overthrow Her Majesties Government!!! It is a vile, immoral, reprehensible, tratorous, evil occupation that is every bit as criminal as the Nazi’s marching into France and making the French dance, cook, and make art for them. They are thieves, liars, and currs!!! Out! Out! Damned Spot!
hey I appreciate you all commenting, a lot of times I want to just put things up to say “this is what’s out there” without necessarily always correcting the misinterpretations or whatever, but I’m glad when others fill in to critique and provide perspective.
Aloha,
We need to qualify all information presented and measure it up to the facts.
Simple, but not always so easy.
A hui hou