Final answer:
In the film 'Pidgin: The Voice of Hawai'i', the historical and social factor that led to the formation of pidgin in Hawai'i was the diverse ethnic composition of the workforce in the sugar plantations, which necessitated a common language for communication.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the film "Pidgin: The Voice of Hawai'i", a vital historical and social factor that shaped the formation of pidgin in Hawai'i was the multi-ethnic composition of the workforce in the sugar plantations during the 19th and early 20th centuries. Workers from parts of Asia, Europe, and the Pacific Islands came together in the isolated region, each with their own distinct languages. The necessity to communicate led to a simplified language form called Pidgin, which combined elements of the different import languages and native Hawaiian.
Over time, this linguistic sugar plantation pidgin evolved into what is known today as Hawai'i Creole English, a fully-fledged language used across Hawai'i. It reflects the social dynamics, tough labor conditions, and cultural amalgamation that took place in Hawai'i's sugar plantations century ago.
So, final answer in 2 lines: The historical and social factor that led to the development of pidgin in Hawai'i was the importation of diverse ethnic groups for labor in the sugar plantations, who needed a common language to communicate effectively.
Learn more about Development of Pidgin in Hawai'i