Though I was tangentially aware of the dubious circumstances by which the Hawaiian islands were adopted into the Union of the United States, Ms. Vowell's humorous and caustic history of the colonization of Hawaii, by Americans, was powerfully enlightening. Composed with the characteristic Vowell wit, the author interweaves the traditional beliefs of Hawaiians with the story of how waves of missionaries landed on Hawaii's beautiful beaches, Christianized its inhabitants, claimed some of its lands, and set into motion a process of Westernization which eventually lead to the Bayonet Constitution. She describes how the passing of a few decades emboldened the Americans who had settled on Hawaiian lands, and who were in favor of Hawaii's accession into the Union, to give the Hawaiian king an ultimatum, sacrifice his power or lose his position in a coupe. Though the king agreed to sign away his power, his decision was irrelevant. The bayonetters wanted Americanization. And though it would require them to bring down a king and a queen to realize their goals, they were more than up to this bullying task.
Though Ms. Vowell does justice to the unconstitutional spirit of Hawaii's annexation, her sweeping account spends as much time cataloguing the history of Hawaiians since the 19th century: their traditions, their beliefs, their poets. She touches on the key, 19th century figures who shaped Hawaiian culture and Hawaiian thought. While using the arrogant accounts of missionaries to reconstruct Hawaiian life prior to 20th century assimilation into Americanism. So while she leaves us with the sense of the injustice of Hawaiian statehood, she educates us on its inevitability. Being that the history of humanity seems to be oftentimes defined by one group's violent acquisition of what another group can't defend, someone would have claimed those lovely islands and imprinted upon them their own cultural brand. Perhaps it was good that America got their first, but at what cost?
As quirky, edifying, and entertaining as ever. Few contemporary writers bring it home as consistently as Ms. Vowell does. (3/5 Stars)
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