Final answer:
Hawaiians largely opposed annexation as evidenced by mass petitions and resistance to the overthrow of their monarchy. The annexation occurred due to American economic interests and strategic considerations, and was facilitated by political maneuvering in the U.S. Congress.
Step-by-step explanation:
According to the article, Hawaiians did not support annexation. The native Hawaiian populace resisted through organized petitions that nearly every resident of the island signed. However, their efforts were overridden by U.S. strategic interests and the manipulation of political processes. President McKinley's decision to change the annexation from treaty to resolution allowed for a simpler majority vote in Congress, avoiding the need for a two-thirds majority – a maneuver echoing the annexation of Texas in the 1840s. This method was also used to limit suffrage within the territory to white male property owners, further disenfranchising native Hawaiians.
Hawaiian opposition continued as they witnessed their monarchy overthrown by a coup spearheaded largely by American businessmen who desired annexation to protect their sugar production profits. Despite the bloodless coup and the establishment of a provisional government, led by Sanford B. Dole, the provisional government sought immediate annexation, which was only temporarily halted by President Grover Cleveland who saw the overthrow as illegal. Thus, the annexation of Hawaii occurred amid strong native Hawaiian resistance and due to American military, economic, and strategic interests, rather than the support of the Hawaiian people.