I decided to do my project on Hawaiian history, because I think it will help me understand more layers of the main character's conflict. Specifically, I want to research the history of native Hawaiian and European/American tensions. Captain Cook was the first to discover Hawaii for the Europeans, but centuries before that Polynesians inhabited the islands. The original Hawaiians had their own caste system and governments, and by 1810 King Kamehameha I had united the islands under one rule. The Hawaiian monarchy ended when the United States annexed Hawaii, and many islanders weren't happy about this at all.
I want to look into the motives behind the United State's annexation of Hawaii further. I read that part of the reason American's wanted Hawaii was for naval bases during the war with Spain, which native Hawaiians probably weren't too excited about. I think the Hawaiian's opinions about annexation will end up as the main part of my project, because Matt King, in The Descendants is often criticized by other Hawaiian's for not being fully Hawaiian, but deciding the fate of a huge portion of Hawaiian land.
Today and when The Descendants takes place, there is still a lot of racial tension in Hawaii. An article on NPR.com says that there are now high rates of incarceration, little land ownership, and poor education for native Hawaiians. This creates conflict between the natives and others who arrived later. So, even though Hawaii is incredibly diverse, tensions are high between all of the ethnicities on the islands. Knowing this, I now notice how often Kaui Hart Hemmings mentions the race of characters. In fact, almost every character is introduced by a racial description.
The main character of the story being part Hawaiian and part American is significant, because it determines how other characters feel about him and also how he identifies himself. Ultimately, his mixed heritage also play a role in King’s decision about his family’s land (he chooses to preserve the land and help maintain Hawaii’s natural beauty instead of selling to any American businessmen, who would turn the land into golf courses or hotels). I think there is enough information online about Hawaiian/ American history and conflict to do my project well. I have a few good sources already. It’s harder to find sources that explain the Hawaiian’s opinion about annexation and other incidents, but I’m sure I can find some. I think this will be an interesting topic to learn more about, and I’m excited to show the layers of Hawaii’s history with different genres.
I wonder if his name "King" also is significant. And whenever there is a character who straddles two cultures, you had better pay attention. Also, is the forced reconnection with his children and the reckoning with the death of his wife also the incident that forces him to reckon with is past and identity? Also, does it pull him away from his "white" culture and toward his Hawaiian culture?
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