Critical Social Inquiry 0230 - U.S. Imperialism & Hawai'i

Even though Hawai'i is often referred to as the "Paradise on Earth," the history of Hawai'i is rife with controversial U.S. imperialism and its legacies. This course examines the history of U.S. annexation of Hawai'i as a case study of U.S. imperial ambitions. We will examine the history of the rise and fall of the Hawaiian Kingdom, the illegal overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy, the establishment of Hawaii as a U.S. territory, and finally the current status of Hawai'i as the 50th state of the United States. Topics include the role of missionaries in introducing capitalist economy in Hawai'i, Native Hawaiian resistance to American annexation, indigenous land struggles as a result of urbanization and U.S. military expansion after annexation, new colonialism of Asian settlers in Hawai'i, revitalization of Hawaiian culture, and contemporary Hawaiian sovereignty movements. Through a variety of primary sources (court cases, diaries, memoirs, letters) and secondary sources (scholarly books, articles, documentaries, films) students will critically examine how U.S. imperialism manifested itself in Hawai'i and imposed American geopolitical and economic interests on the sovereign people of Hawai'i in which we will engage with various local activists, scholars, and artists to further understand and experience the history and culture of Hawai'i.

Multiple Cultural Perspectives Writing and Research Students are expected to spend at least six to eight hours a week of preparation and work outside of class time.