What Was Hawaii Before It Became The 50Th State?

Hawaii conjures images of tropical paradise—swaying palm trees, towering volcanoes, and pristine beaches. But long before Hawaii joined the United States, it had a rich and complex history and culture all its own.

If you’re short on time, here’s a quick answer to your question: Before statehood in 1959, Hawaii was an independent kingdom ruled by Native Hawaiians which later became a U.S. territory after American businessmen overthrew the Hawaiian monarchy.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore Hawaii’s transformation from an ancient Polynesian society to a thriving island kingdom, its colonization by foreigners, the loss of Hawaiian sovereignty, and the islands’ eventual path to becoming the 50th state.

Origins as an Ancient Polynesian Society

Settlement by Polynesian Voyagers

Archaeological evidence suggests the Hawaiian Islands were first settled around 300-500 AD by Polynesian voyagers sailing 2,000 miles across the Pacific Ocean in outrigger canoes from the Marquesas Islands.

These skilled navigators used their knowledge of astronomy and ocean swells to locate the remote Hawaiian island chain. According to National Park Service, the initial settlers brought with them plants and animals to establish a self-sufficient society.

The voyagers were likely driven by overpopulation and scarcity of resources in their home islands. They packed their canoes with supplies and set out to find new lands, not knowing if or when they might return.

It was a courageous journey into the unknown that laid the foundations for the development of Hawaiian civilization over the next 1500 years. The successful settlement exhibited the Polynesians’ mastery of seamanship, ability to sustain long ocean voyages, and colonization skills.

Emergence of a Stratified Society and Culture

Over the centuries, native Hawaiians developed a thriving culture centered around agriculture, fishing, and religious practices. By the 13th century, a highly stratified society with distinct social classes had taken shape, dominated by powerful chiefs (aliʻi) who controlled the land and resources.

Commoners (makaʻāinana) worked the land while priests (kāhuna) oversaw the religious system.

The chiefs derived power from an elaborate religious system that considered them sacred descendants of the gods. Temple platforms (heiau) were built across the islands to honor gods associated with fertility, healing, navigation, warfare, and more.

Over time a rich artistic tradition developed seen in wood carvings, featherwork, barkcloth, and hula dances used for religious worship and entertainment.

By the late 18th century, the Hawaiian Islands were fully inhabited with a native population estimate over 250,000-800,000. The people lived in relative isolation for centuries guided by a shared system of social, political, economic and religious structures rooted in their Polynesian heritage.

The Rise of the Hawaiian Kingdom

Unification Under King Kamehameha I

In the late 18th century, the Hawaiian Islands were divided into four kingdoms – Hawaii, Maui, Oahu, and Kauai. Each was ruled by local ali’i (chiefs) who constantly warred over land and resources. This changed when Kamehameha I, an ali’i from the Big Island, launched a series of campaigns using western weapons to conquer and unite the islands under his rule.

By 1810, he had established the Kingdom of Hawaii encompassing all major islands.

Kamehameha was an ambitious and strategic leader. To strengthen his control, he redistributed land and appointed governors loyal to him. He also introduced the kapu (code of conduct) system and religious practices to reinforce social order.

Under Kamehameha’s reign, Hawaii became more unified and centralized than ever before.

Growing International Trade and Influence

The united Hawaiian Kingdom under Kamehameha developed extensive economic ties and political influence abroad. Its strategic location made Hawaii an ideal stopping point for European and American trading ships traveling between North America and Asia.

Valuable exports like sandalwood and food supplies created thriving trade.

As foreign ships and settlers increased, Hawaii signed trade treaties with major powers like Britain, France and the U.S. Foreign advisors and technologies transformed the islands’ economy. By the mid-1800s, Hawaii had well-established sugarcane plantations, mills and exported sugar globally.

The influx of immigrants working plantations increased cultural diversity.

Internationally, Hawaii maintained independence despite growing U.S. economic and military influence. But calls for U.S. annexation by American settlers and businessmen increased by the late 1800s, leading to tensions with native Hawaiians seeking to retain sovereignty.

Colonization and Loss of Sovereignty

Arrival of Western Missionaries and Business Interests

In the early 19th century, American missionaries and businessmen began arriving in Hawaii. They sought to convert native Hawaiians to Christianity and establish new economic opportunities like sugarcane plantations and ports.

By the 1840s, Hawaii became fully integrated into Western trade networks centered on the export of sugar, effectively ending its isolation.

The influx of Westerners brought diseases that decimated the native Hawaiian population, which plummeted from around 300,000 in 1778 to just 40,000 by 1900. This loss of life and land to foreign interests stirred growing resentment among Hawaiians.

Overthrow of the Hawaiian Monarchy

In 1887, American businessmen forced King Kalakaua to sign the “Bayonet Constitution”, which stripped him of much of his authority. When his sister Queen Liliuokalani tried to establish a new constitution in 1893, the same business interests staged a coup with support from U.S. Marines.

The Queen surrendered under protest to avoid bloodshed, ending the Hawaiian monarchy. A provisional government was formed that sought annexation by the United States. An investigating commission initiated by President Cleveland found the overthrow to have utilized unacceptable coercion, calling for the Queen’s reinstatement.

With the election of the expansionist President McKinley, however, annexation plans resumed.

Annexation as a U.S. Territory

On July 7, 1898 following the outbreak of the Spanish-American War, Congress passed the Newlands Resolution to officially annex Hawaii as an unincorporated U.S. territory.

Over the next 60 years, territorial governors were appointed from the mainland rather than democratically elected. The plantation economy continued expanding with tax breaks and immigrant labor expanding sugar and pineapple production.

The non-voting territorial delegate sent to Congress consistently lobbied for statehood.

After Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, Hawaii was placed under martial law. Wartime necessities strengthened calls for full representation and participation rights. Statehood was finally achieved on August 21, 1959 when Dwight Eisenhower signed official proclamation.

The Long Road to Statehood

Hawaii’s path to becoming the 50th state was long and winding, spanning over 60 years from the late 19th century to 1959. After American businessmen overthrew the Hawaiian monarchy in 1893, there were early calls for Hawaii to be annexed and become a U.S. territory.

However, it took decades of petitioning, political wrangling, and referendums before statehood was finally achieved.

Failed Attempts at Annexation

Shortly after the overthrow of Queen Liliuokalani in 1893, Hawaii’s new government petitioned for annexation by the United States. They wanted the protection and benefits that came with U.S. territory status. However, President Grover Cleveland rejected annexation, viewing the overthrow as illegal.

Support for annexation grew over the next decade under President William McKinley, fueled by U.S. expansionist sentiments.

In 1898, McKinley signed a congressional resolution annexing Hawaii as a U.S. territory. However, it came with a catch – the Republic of Hawaii had to relinquish all 1.8 million acres of its public lands to the U.S. government.

This caused an uproar among native Hawaiians, who viewed it as a land grab, and ultimately the annexation was ruled invalid by the U.S. Supreme Court.

Establishing the Territory of Hawaii

Over the next few decades, the U.S. still maintained strong political and economic ties with Hawaii. Calls for annexation continued, with support from powerful sugar plantation owners. Finally, in 1900, Congress passed the Organic Act, which established the Territory of Hawaii.

This law organized a civilian government for Hawaii and declared all its residents American citizens. While not a state, Hawaii was now an incorporated U.S. territory. Territorial status improved Hawaii’s economy and gave native residents increased rights and representation in Congress.

The Long Campaign for Statehood

In the 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s, bills calling for Hawaiian statehood were introduced in Congress, only to stagnate. There were concerns about everything from the Islands’ distance from the mainland U.S. to the racial makeup of Hawaii’s population.

However, after World War II, Hawaii’s strategic importance led to increasing support for statehood in Congress.

Statehood referendums held in Hawaii in 1950 and 1954 showed overwhelming support from residents. Finally, after decades of petitioning, Congress passed the Hawaii Admissions Act in 1959, detailing how the territory would become the 50th state. On August 21, 1959, Hawaii officially became a state.

Conclusion

Hawaii has seen tumultuous changes, from its origins as islands settled by Polynesian voyagers to an independent kingdom ruled by Native Hawaiians. But increasing western influence in the 19th and 20th centuries led foreign powers to overtake political control.

After 61 years as an incorporated U.S. territory, Hawaii finally achieved its long-sought goal of joining the United States as the 50th state in 1959.

This glimpse into Hawaii’s complex history and transformation shows there’s far more behind its glossy modern image. Understanding its full story gives deeper meaning to Hawaii as the island paradise the world knows today.

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