07-21-2019, 07:18 AM
1893 is the year the Hawaiian monarchy was overthrown and is often noted as the date when Hawaiians lost sovereignty, self determination, their religion and culture.
But what about 1819? I'll copy this from Wiki:
Kamehameha the Great died in 1819. In the aftermath, two of his wives, Kaahumanu and Kepolani, then the two most powerful people in the kingdom, conferred with the kahuna nui, Hewahewa. They convinced young Liholiho, Kamehameha II, to overthrow the kapu system. They ordered the people to burn the wooden statues and tear down the rock temples.
Missionaries arrived in 1820, and most of the alii converted to Christianity, including Kaahumanu and Kepolani, but it took 11 years for Kaahumanu to proclaim laws against ancient religious practices. "Worshipping of idols such as sticks, stones, sharks, dead bones, ancient gods and all untrue gods is prohibited. There is one God alone, Jehovah. He is the God to worship. The hula is forbidden, the chant (olioli), the song of pleasure (mele), foul speech, and bathing by women in public places. The planting of awa is prohibited. Neither chiefs nor commoners are to drink awa."
The Hawaiian monarchy banned Hawaiian cultural and religious practices. Not the businessmen, not territorial governments, and not any telescopes.
Question: If the Hawaiian monarchy outlawed their own religion and culture, isn't that an act of self determination? Isn't it a large factor in bringing us to where we are today? Why is it rarely mentioned?
edited for okina markings
But what about 1819? I'll copy this from Wiki:
Kamehameha the Great died in 1819. In the aftermath, two of his wives, Kaahumanu and Kepolani, then the two most powerful people in the kingdom, conferred with the kahuna nui, Hewahewa. They convinced young Liholiho, Kamehameha II, to overthrow the kapu system. They ordered the people to burn the wooden statues and tear down the rock temples.
Missionaries arrived in 1820, and most of the alii converted to Christianity, including Kaahumanu and Kepolani, but it took 11 years for Kaahumanu to proclaim laws against ancient religious practices. "Worshipping of idols such as sticks, stones, sharks, dead bones, ancient gods and all untrue gods is prohibited. There is one God alone, Jehovah. He is the God to worship. The hula is forbidden, the chant (olioli), the song of pleasure (mele), foul speech, and bathing by women in public places. The planting of awa is prohibited. Neither chiefs nor commoners are to drink awa."
The Hawaiian monarchy banned Hawaiian cultural and religious practices. Not the businessmen, not territorial governments, and not any telescopes.
Question: If the Hawaiian monarchy outlawed their own religion and culture, isn't that an act of self determination? Isn't it a large factor in bringing us to where we are today? Why is it rarely mentioned?
edited for okina markings
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