Hello! Hello! Hello! Welcome to episode twenty-six of We Don’t Talk About P-word! Today I am beginning a new series but it’s not for the new season. Season two is still coming soon I promise. You can consider the next several episodes season 1.5. 

Before we launched, I contemplated several different formats. What did I want my podcast to be about? I always knew it would have some type of historical angle to it, but I wasn’t sure how to include politics. My first thought was to tell historical stories that didn’t quite go down the way we think. I realized that wasn’t a unique voice in the podcast community. That’s when I noticed that no one was talking about politics from the People’s point of view. Everyone wants to talk about politics from the view of “Republican versus Democrat.” When you do that, it sets us up to fail. The parties do not work for the People. The sooner we all get on the same page, the better our nation will be. Thus was born We Don’t Talk About P-word.

My intention was to not come back until September after the Fourth of July Special. Instead, I decided to not let the writing and research I had already done for that forgotten podcast go to waste. I wanted to finish the untold story. To help fill the time, I plan to share what would have been the inaugural episodes for that podcast. 

At first, I feared it was going to be wildly different in theme than Talk P-word. As I edited and continued the writing, I realized that wasn’t the case. This story couldn’t be told without talking about politics. 

Before we move into it, I want to remind you that this is a historical story. I don’t claim facts that don’t exist, and when things are uncertain, I say so. This tale isn’t meant to upset anyone, but that doesn’t mean it won’t. It is never my desire to disparage our nation or our history. My goal remains to tell the People the facts. I only want to highlight the details that surround historical and political events. History is written by the winners, and that is rarely the People. It is always my only desire to help put history and politics into perspective. In all, it’s gritty details. 

As I have said many times in the past, facts aren’t meant to make you feel good.

With the trigger warning out of the way, let’s get into it. Over the next several episodes, I will regale you with a story of Paradise. July seventh marked the 125th anniversary of the annexation of Hawaii. August sixteenth marks sixty-four years since Hawaii achieved statehood. Now seems like the perfect time to discuss Hawaii’s journey to become our fiftieth state. We all see the star; we all know it’s a state. But do you know how it happened? Do you know how an independent nation, 2,000 miles off our coast, became a part of our union?

I’d give you three guesses, but if you have been listening to this podcast, you probably only need one.

So, strap in because this is a roller coaster of a story. It includes military action, murder, intrigue, and betrayal.

Before I get into the story, I want to apologize upfront. I attempt to use Hawaiian names and words. I may or may not always be successful in that. There are more failures than successes, I'm sure. Hawaiian names are often hard to pronounce. But, for me, it is important to do my best and use their names. I do this out of respect for the people who lived this story. Because that is exactly who they were, people. Not characters in a storybook, not abstracts of history but real living people. 

People who lived… People who love and were loved… People who made mistakes… People… who ruled an empire. 

They deserve more than becoming a caricature from a storybook. It is for this reason that I do my best to honor their memories and tell their stories. I attempt to do this without bias, to truly know, to truly empathize with their lives. Your opinions, your judgments, I leave those up to you.

This should go without saying but before we get into it, I want to remind you. There is so much more to these stories. I can only cram so much into a thirty-minute episode. I also place my focus on primarily political events. This means there are a lot of interesting stories I leave untold. I encourage you to read more about any subjects that pique your interest. You will not be disappointed. 

So, with no further ado… I give you, Hawaii.

The island chain we know today as Hawaii was once believed to be settled between the years 400 and 1100. Technological advancements have scientists now believing Hawaii was first settled around 1219. It is also believed that there was a relatively quick influx of settlers. This begins the period of Hawaiian history known as ancient Hawaii. 

The first settlers of Hawaii were Polynesians from Tahiti, Marquesas, and Samoa. Hawaiian folklore tells of native dwarflike humans known as Menehune. According to myths, the Menehune were driven out as the settlers arrived. The legends say they escaped to the mountains and forests. They also say you can still find them today if you are a child or in some way connected to them.

These early settlers brought with them livestock and plants necessary for survival. They also found the Hawaiian Islands to be rich in natural resources. This allowed them to establish thriving settlements and spread across the islands. They created and utilized fishponds, which were farmed for up to two million pounds of fish a year. Unfortunately, they also brought rats with them. Rats along with livestock led to many native species of flora and fauna becoming extinct. 

Here is an interesting fact about the crops the ancient Hawaiians grew. Sweet potatoes are a crop native to South America. Studies have shown they were a staple crop for ancient Hawaiians. Further analysis has shown sweet potatoes made it to Polynesia around 1100. This means Polynesians had contact with South America long before Europeans did. 

Ancient Hawaiians settled in the coastal areas and moved inland. This created a dense population across the chain of islands. This early society was ruled by a caste system. It was much like modern India is today. You had the Ali’i who were the chiefs of the tribes and subdivisions of tribes. The Kahuna were what you would call “subject matter experts”. They were the leading people in their fields. This included priests as well as carpenters, dancers, and doctors to name a few. The Maka’ainana were the common citizens in their culture. The lowest caste level in Ancient Hawaiian society was the Kauwa. These were servants, slaves, and outcasts. Members of this caste were often used as human sacrifices. 

The Ancient Hawaiians observed a polytheistic religion. This means they worshiped many gods who personified nature. Their major gods included Ku, Kane, Lono, and Kanaloa. Lesser gods and demigods that are more well-known to us today included Pele and Maui. Their religious observance was called kapu, and it was based on taboos. This was a strict religious observance. It enforced restrictions on women and men eating together. It limited fishing to specific times of the year. It even stated that it was illegal to touch the chief’s shadow. Their religious observance also placed great emphasis on the awa or kava plant. It was used to create a narcotic drink used for ceremonies and meals.

Children were educated at home. They were taught life skills, usually by their grandparents. For smarter or more advanced children, they were often apprenticed to a kahuna. These children literally became members of the kahuna’s family. They lived with the kahuna, learning through observation and participation. Traditional Hawaiian culture believed that children should be seen and not heard. Asking questions was discouraged.

In Hawaiian culture, they believed that they did not own the land. They occupied it. They believed in the land and their god’s immortality, which meant that mortals could not own land. This would obviously create future problems for the native Hawaiians. Who worked the land or, more likely, who controlled it could change. For the common Hawaiian, they were typically left in place to pay tribute to the new chief. This is like the feudal system of Europe.

I have also found a couple of interesting aspects of ancient Hawaiian culture.

Families began to specialize in the skills they offered. This eventually spread through the islands, too. O’ahu became the cloth manufacturer for their society. Maui became the canoe builders, and Hawaii farmed and sold dried fish.

Also, homosexual, bisexual, and polyamorous relationships were part of Hawaiian culture as well. This was referred to as aikane relationships. The term kane meant male or husband but this was accepted of both men and women. These relationships often began in their teens. Many continued even if they entered heterosexual relationships later in life.
It was so common that an offer was extended to a British officer on their first visit. When explorer James Cook spent time in Hawaii, he was asked by a chief to leave Lieutenant James King behind. The offer was considered a great honor by the Hawaiians. 

The four main islands, Hawaii, Maui, Kaua’i, and O’ahu, were each ruled by an elder ali’i. These islands were subdivided, and each subdivision was ruled by a lesser ali’i. These chiefs were all interrelated creating somewhat of a familial dynasty. The longest of those reigning dynasty descended from Liloa. Liloa and his direct descendants ruled from the late 1400s through the early 1700s. It may have been an even longer dynasty, as his line was said to be unbroken leading back to Hawaiian “creation”. The first to unify all the islands of Hawaii was Umi, the second son of Liloa. 

The unbroken Liloa dynasty ended with the death of Keawe, the then-ruler of Hawaii. A civil war broke out between his two sons and a rival chief Alapa’i. Alapa’i won, assuming rule of Hawaii in 1725. The grandsons of the former Chief were absorbed into Alapa’i’s tribe. This included Keoua, the future father of Paiea. Alapa’i’s son was overthrown by Kalani’opu’u after only one year as ruler. 

Under Kalani’opo’u’s rule, Hawaii entered a time of great change. This change was heralded by white sails on the horizon. 

The first Europeans to set foot on Hawaii arrived in 1778. Captain James Cook anchored the HMS Resolution of the British Royal Navy off the coast of Kauai. The Resolution and the Discovery had set sail to find a northwest passage around America. Cook named the chain of islands the Sandwich Islands. He named them after his patron the Earl of Sandwich, John Montague, and not our preferred way to eat sliced meat. Montague is, however, the Sandwich that the famous culinary dish is often credited to.

There is some disagreement over what European discovered Hawaii. Spanish historians claim it was the voyage of Captain Ruy Lopez de Villalobos in 1543. Writings of a famous French explorer and Portuguese cartographer support this claim. 

Regardless, European attention did not turn its focus to Hawaii until after Cook’s voyage. 
I would like to end my story here by saying they all lived “happily ever after.” I would like to assure you that the relationship was fruitful for all involved. But you and I both know that would be a lie. It ended like most interactions between Europeans and natives around the world. The natives suffer for this introduction. The story of Hawaii is no different. 

Cook first anchored off Kauai in January of 1778. He and his crew traded and resupplied with the natives. In early February, Cook set sail again, returning to his task of mapping a northwest passage. In January of 1779, Cook and his ships returned, but this time they anchored off the coast of Hawaii. 

The welcome of the native Hawaiians has been disputed. For a long time, it was thought that the natives saw Cook as an incarnation of their god Lono. Cook and his crew arrived during Makahiki, a harvest festival for the worship of Lono. Several other coincidences could have also led them to this belief. This included the iconography of their ship’s sails and masts, and the way they had sailed around the island. They had sailed in a clockwise fashion, mimicking the procession of the festival. 

Whether they believed Cook to be Lono or not has been disputed. It may have been nothing more than a familiar term used for an unfamiliar visitor. This myth has been attributed to William Bligh. He was serving as a young naval officer onboard the Resolution. This is the same William Bligh that would later be subject to a mutiny on the HMS Bounty. His story was made famous by the movie Mutiny on the Bounty. Whether they believed him to be Lono or not was irrelevant. Cook and his crew were, at first, treated with honor. 

Cook and his crew were not exactly model guests. They removed wood used to encircle a native burial ground. Called the Morai burial ground, high ranking individuals were interred here. When the chiefs felt insulted and refused to barter for the wood, Cook had his men take it. Also, the “theft” of a misplaced rowboat was blamed on one of the native chiefs. This further incensed the natives. Nineteen days after laying anchor, Cook set sail once again. The Hawaiians were not sad to see them go.

Soon after setting sail, the Resolution was beset by strong winds that broke the mainmast. With no other choice, they returned to the bay for repair. No one, neither Hawaiian nor European was happy with this situation. This is shown in the journal of the only American on Cook’s ship. John Ledyard wrote:

“Our return to this bay was as disagreeable to us as it was to the inhabitants, for we were reciprocally tired of each other.”

Unfortunately, the situation went from bad to worse.

While anchored, the natives stole one of the Resolution’s long boats. By this point, the patience of the native Hawaiians had run out and they were now stealing from Cook and his crew. They didn't even bother to hide it. Cook debarked the Resolution for the last time as he hatched a plan to get his longboat back. 

On Valentines Day 1779, Cook and his men kidnapped the elder chief Kalani’opu’u from his home. As they reached the beach, his favorite wife realized what was happening and raised an alarm. As Cook and his men tried to get the chief into their rowboat, the beach filled with Hawaiians. Recognizing the danger of the situation, Cook and his men backed away with guns raised.

A lesser chief, Kana’ina approached Cook who struck him with the flat of his sword. Kana’ina responded by shoving Cook to the ground (or hitting him with a club depending on the story believed).

The chief’s personal attendant stabbed Cook in the chest as he tried to stand. Cook fell dead face down in the surf. Chaos ensued, and a violent melee broke out. Four Marines were killed and two wounded. Cook’s crew retreated to the rowboat, firing at the crowd of natives, and killing several. One of these was likely chief Kana’ina who first confronted them. Several days later, after finishing repairs and resupplying, the Resolution left Hawaii.
The native Hawaiians treated the body of Cook with great respect. Some believe they may have even venerated Cook as a demigod. They prepared his body, following their funerary practices of the time. The bones were cleaned and most of his remains were placed in a sacred place. A part of his remains was returned to the crew for their own funerary observances. 

Cook’s crew also had great respect for him. On their return voyage, a craftsman on the Resolution carved a small coffin as a memorial for his wife. Crafted from the wood of the Resolution, it contained a lock of his hair and a small painting of his death. A silver plate is inscribed ‘Lono and the Seaman’s Idol.’

If you are ever in New South Wales, Australia, it is on display at the State Library there.
Sometime between 1736 and 1740, Paiea was born to High Chief Keoua and chiefess Keku’iapoiwa. Paiea was born around the time that the Liloa line ended following the civil war. While pregnant with Paiea, his mother made a strange request of the chief, Alapa’inui. She asked for the eyes of one of his young lesser chiefs. Alapai called for a kahuna that studied the stars to explain her desire. This kahuna told the chief that she was with child and that a man is coming to slay the chiefs.

Convinced of the prophecy, he set out to kill the child. On the night of his birth, Paiea was spirited away to safety. Alapai sent people after the child, and he believed him dead. Eventually, he was informed otherwise. By the time he was twelve, the chief softened towards him and sent for him to be brought to court. Alapai gave the child to his wife and her sister to care for. Paiea was raised in the courts of Alapai and then Kalani’opu’u’s after he overthrew Alapai’s son. 

Kalani’opu’u’s son Kiwala’o became chief upon his father’s death in 1782. By many accounts, he was said to be of weak character. Paiea was given a prestigious position as guardian of the god of war and control over the Waipi’o Valley. A perceived slight against Kiwala’o strained the cousins’ relationship.

The loyalties of the chiefs of the island of Hawaii were split. A group swore their allegiance to Paiea, and some remained loyal to Kiwala’o. This led to conflict. One of the first major battles of the conflict led to the death of Kiwala’o at the Battle of Moku’ohai. This led to the division of the island of Hawaii into four distinct chiefdoms. Paiea continued the fight with the help of western weapons. These weapons were sold to him by British and American traders. 

Two westerners also became close advisors to Paiea. These were John Young and Isaac Davis, British and Welsh citizens respectively. They were survivors of an attack on their ships by native Hawaiians. This attack was in retaliation for a massacre perpetuated by a sister ship. Both men were protected by Paiea, made chiefs, and even given wives. With the help of these two men, Paiea invaded Maui in 1790.

In the same year, Paiea finally defeated the last chief in his way to complete control of the island of Hawaii. In 1795, with nearly 1000 war canoes and 10,000 soldiers, Paiea completed his invasion. He conquered both Maui and O’ahu. Unfortunately, the politics on O’ahu cost his advisor, Isaac Davis, his life, as he was poisoned.

With this success, Paiea ended ancient Hawaiian culture. In its place, the Kingdom of Hawaii rose. Paiea, better known as Kamehameha the first, would become the first king of a unified Hawaii. 

As the history of Ancient Hawaii comes to an end, so does today's episode. We will continue to commemorate the sixty-fourth anniversary of Hawaii statehood next week. Join me as we discuss the rise of the Kingdom of Hawaii and of course, the entrance of American politics to the stage.