This photo I took of Ka’anapali Beach looks like a typical picture of Maui. Right? But Hawaii didn’t always look this way. Before the immigrants and imports, our view of this beach would have been totally different.
Hawaii, a land of immigrants.
dancer at luau at the Sheraton
Polynesians were the first people to settle in the Hawaiian Islands. But even they didn’t arrive until somewhere between 300 and 800 CE–not that long ago as far as human history is concerned.
dancer at luau
It’s believed that the Spanish sailed to Hawaii in 1542. In 1778 James Cook arrived. After he published several books about his voyage, explorers and traders found their way there, followed by whalers, missionaries and eventually workers on the sugar plantations.
The ancestors of today’s Hawaiians are Filipinos (13.6%), Japanese (12.6%), Polynesians (9%), Germans (7.4%), Irish, English, Portuguese, Chinese (5.2%- 4.1% each), and so on. An extremely diverse population of immigrants.
Non-native animals.
This flamingo who lives in the lobby of the Westin Hotel is obviously an import.
And this beautiful black swan certainly was brought from somewhere else. He also lives in the lobby of the Westin Hotel.
Even the pig you eat at a luau is an introduced species. The Polynesians brought small pigs to Hawaii on their double-hulled canoes. Later Captain Cook brought larger European pigs. Over time the Polynesian pigs interbred with the larger European and Asian pigs and were mainly replaced by them.
My grandson watches as a pig is taken from the pit.
Two men lift the pig. It’s been cooking in a pit covered with hot coals for eight hours.
And here’s the pig we were served at the luau. Delicious!
Next post: Non-native Hawaiian plants.
Leslie Oakes Anderson and I will be celebrating our 50th on Kaanapali Beach in August. We travel to Maui on even years and Kauai each odd year. We appreciate your historical perspective very much. Ken Anderson
Congratulations, Ken and Leslie! That’s terrific. The occasion for our trip was the 15th anniversary of my daughter and son-in-law. They went to Maui for their honeymoon. There were about fifteen honeymooners, a few anniversaries, and one birthday (my grandson’s 6th) that were recognized at our luau.
I spent a month in Hawaii and I loved it. It’s more laid back than the east coast (at least then) and the weather is perfect. Housing costs were high as I remember but hey, no heavy coats or boots!
Definitely more laid back than the East Coast. Shorts and flip flops all day long. Don’t you feel free going out at night without even a sweater? The weather … I won’t complain, but it’s even better in Vanuatu and Fiji.