[QUOTE=Pullet]
There isn’t enough agriculture or fishing to even feed its current population, let alone provide money.
[/QUOTE]
Very, very true.
There are times when the dock workers at the harbors of the island(s) threaten to strike, or go on strike, and when that happens, everyone panics, and if it looks inevitable, we really stock up on basically rice, canned goods, and toilet paper.
I also remember hearing once that if we were left to our own devices only after so long, we really only have enough food stockpiled to keep us going for a week, and then we’d be really screwed.
Another reason why I just rolled my eyes is because there’s one song that they play on the radio here sometimes, which basically asks how the old kings and queens would react to how Hawaii is today, and how they would be towards cars, railroad tracks, stoplights, etc., and saying how they would basically weep at it all at some sort of huge loss to the old Hawaiian ways.
[/QUOTE]
The first railroad in Hawaii was established under a grant from King Kalakaua. So, one would have to assume he, at least, would like it.
[QUOTE=smiling bandit]
I have two points: first, the native Hawaians (let alone the fruitcakes in this mess) are outnumbered more than 10 to 1.
[/QUOTE]
Actually, it’s about 22% Native Hawaiian, 41% white, and 57% Asian. See here.
[QUOTE=Pullet]
There isn’t enough agriculture or fishing to even feed its current population, let alone provide money.
[/QUOTE]
Along that line- aren’t most of the island dairys and cattle ranches gone now?
I have heard a lot about the various Hawaiian sovereignty movements, as my brother served with a guy who’s family is quite high up in one of them. It makes me sad that, although I do believe that their country was taken unethically at best, I also know that it ain’t ever gonna change. The kingdom is gone, never to return. Like so many other groups of native people, they got screwed, and no amount of tourism or flag waving will make up for that. But the world isn’t fair- it’s round.
I am haole, I spend as much time there as I can but I will always be haole. My friends who farm coffee, mac nuts and fruit on the Kona coast are haole, but they fell in love with the islands and just couldn’t leave. Hell, a good friend of mine is Kamehameha-eligible (1/8, I believe), and neither she nor her sister has ever set foot in the islands (which is a shame). I would live there if I could afford it (and that’s saying something, considering where I live). Maybe next year.
[QUOTE=HubZilla]
A Hawaiian sovereignty group occupied the grounds of 'Iolani Palace, locked the gates and blocked non-Hawaiians from entering for about eight hours yesterday
[/QUOTE]
I assume that they mean “non-Hawaiians” by some ethnic definition. If so, I see no reason to regard or treat them any differently than the Ku Klux Klan.
I love Hawaii dearly and am sympathetic to the sense of outrage that some people feel about Hawaii’s history, but Pullet summed it up well … get real, guys.
My son had a nightmarish experience one summer as one of only 2-3 haole kids in a day camp on the Big Island. It was not only about racism - there were some other issues, my son was not a very social kid at that point - but racism definitely played a role. Actually, as is frequently the case, in retrospect it is a bit difficult to separate racism from class issues. The following summer he went to a different camp where once again he was a racial minority. But to be a bit bald about it, in the first camp most of the parents were fast food employees and in the second camp the families were well off. Surprise, surprise, the resentment against the haole outsider went away.
Another reason why I just rolled my eyes is because there’s one song that they play on the radio here sometimes, which basically asks how the old kings and queens would react to how Hawaii is today, and how they would be towards cars, railroad tracks, stoplights, etc., and saying how they would basically weep at it all at some sort of huge loss to the old Hawaiian ways.
[/QUOTE]
That would be Iz Kamakawiwo’ole’s Hawai’i '78, most likely. Good enough song, great guy- sorry the subject bums you out.
[QUOTE=Furious_Marmot]
2. Assuming 1 is correct, would this be the first time post-industrial revolution that a representative government was replaced by a monarchy?
[/QUOTE]
The Spanish monarchy was reestablished in 1978 by popular demand, but it’s largely symbolic - the King is the head of state, but the Prime Minister is really the head of government.
[QUOTE=Really Not All That Bright]
The Spanish monarchy was reestablished in 1978 by popular demand, but it’s largely symbolic - the King is the head of state, but the Prime Minister is really the head of government.
[/QUOTE]
Ah, OK. In that case, I change my question to “non-figurehead monarchy”. You know, you’re smarter than your username would suggest.
[QUOTE=Really Not All That Bright]
The Spanish monarchy was reestablished in 1978 by popular demand, but it’s largely symbolic - the King is the head of state, but the Prime Minister is really the head of government.
[/QUOTE]
Few people would claim that Spain under Franco was a representative government.
(and that’s saying something, considering where I live). Maybe next year.
