Before western contact, Hawaii was a sovereign and independent kingdom with its own cultural practices. However, the illegal overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy by the United States led to significant changes and displacement of Native Hawaiians.
Prior to western contact, Hawaii was a sovereign and independent kingdom with its own royal house, foreign policy, and culture. The native inhabitants, known as Kanaka Maoli, lived in kauhale living systems and each island was divided into ahupua'a, ensuring that everyone had necessary resources from both the land and sea. However, Hawaii's history took a turn with the illegal overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy in 1893 and subsequent annexation by the United States. This led to the dispossession of land, changes in the Hawaiian way of life, and the displacement of many Native Hawaiians from their ancestral lands.
Learn more about Hawaii prior to western contact