You are probably
wondering what is the significance of the postcard you saw on the previous
page. Try to image someonewho is on vacation in Hawaii and he sends
someone back home a postcard that says "Wish you were here."  But
that's not how native Hawaiians feel about Americans, they would rather
send over the postcard that said "Wish you weren't here." Why did you ask?
Americans have overstayed their welcome. Ever had that horrible and rude
guest that would never leave and would take complete control over your
domain? Well, that's how Native Hawaiians feel over the Europeans, who
brought 200 years of foreign oppression and dieseases that wiped out a
significant amount of Native Hawaiians and then after there are the Americans
who brought over 100 years of colonialism. Tourists outnumber residents
6 to 1 and with Native Hawaiians they outnumber them 30 to 1.
Not many people know much about Hawai'i's history, the unsweeten American version of it. Most people when they think of Hawaii images of hula girls in grass skirts with leis in their hands , far out waves, tropical drinks, 
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 luas, and beautiful
beaches. Sounds like paradise, doesn't it? But these are the highly commercialized
images of Hawaii that often appear on travel brochures or in American history
textbooks. Not images of a nation that was pillaged and raped of it's homeland
and culture. Not many people think of these various historical events in
Hawaiian history, since it often told thru Eurocentric eyes rather than
the perspective of a Native Hawaiian.
The purpose of this website is to educate the general public about Hawai'i's history. Since even I had the stereotypical view of Hawaii 
as being this paradise, until I was educated about the matter in my Asian
American Studies class and quickly changed my perspective of Hawai'i. We
hope to use the information we have learn about Hawai'i's history to help
empower people with the knowledge which helps the Hawaiian sovereignity
movement. |
