Hawaiian Sovereignty in The Nation

The April 28, 2008 special issue of The Nation explores the annexation of Hawai‘i by the United States and questions of sovereignty and indigenous rights that persist today. (Click here to view the articles available at The Nation’s web site.) Elinor Langer, the author of the lead article, “Famous Are the Flowers: Hawaiian Resistance Then—and Now,” also compiled an extensive reading and resources list that includes these University of Hawai‘i Press titles:

The Hawaiian Kingdom by Ralph S. Kuykendall
Volume 1: Foundation and Transformation, 1778—1854
Volume 2: Twenty Critical Years, 1854–1874
Volume 3: The Kalakaua Dynasty, 1874–1893

“The indispensable work of traditional Hawaiian historiography.” —The Nation


Na Kua‘aina: Living Hawaiian Culture by Daviana Pomaika‘i McGregor

“Indispensable.” —The Nation

“A bold intervention in modern Hawaiian politics, a summoning to the barricades that by its end will have you cheering. Na Kua‘aina is the inspiring story of a culture that refuses to die, of a resurgent nation poised to reclaim its embattled heritage. . . . This is no dry-as-dust tome destined for library basements, but a solidly grounded set of political demands cast in historical mode. It is good research leading to intellectually honest conclusions with real-world applications.” —Honolulu Star-Bulletin


Dismembering Lahui: A History of the Hawaiian Nation to 1887 by Jonathan K. K. Osorio

“Indispensable.” —The Nation

“Profound scholarship that examines neglected sources and adds a new dimension to our understanding of the Hawaiian past.” —The Contemporary Pacific


Who Owns the Crown Lands of Hawai‘i by Jon M. Van Dyke

“Definitive. Who Owns the Crown Lands of Hawai‘i? [is] certain to become the standard reference for that question.” —The Nation

“Fascinating. . . . Deeply researched. . . . Adds a new and thought-provoking dimension on a debate that has too often boiled down into simplistic arguments.” —Honolulu Advertiser


From a Native Daughter: Colonialism and Sovereignty in Hawai‘i (Revised Edition) by Haunani K. Trask

“One of the strongest and most influential texts of the sovereignty movement.” —The Nation

“This book is not for the politically squeamish. It is a blueprint for sovereignty movements that aims at fueling the collective memory of a people.” —Pacific Affairs