Hawaii

The **Kingdom of Hawaii**, or just **Hawaii**, is a sovereign state and Polynesian island nation located in the North Pacific Ocean and Oceania. Hawaii is a very isolated nation; the closest land is over 2,000 miles away, in California. Hawaii currently lays a claim to the atoll of Sikaiana.

The Kingdom of Hawaii was formed in 1795 with the unification of the Hawaiian Islands under Kamehameha I. In the 1940, the Germans, which dominated Oceania, took an interest in Hawaii, however, only one serious invasion attempt was made. Today, although it is still a developing country with a large agriculture sector in its economy, **Hawaii** is one of the most developed countries in the Pacific islands, alongside New Guinea, Aotearoa, and Fiji.

## History

### Ancient and early modern history

The first inhabitants of Hawaii may have reached the islands as early as 300 CE from the Marquesas Islands. Contact with and settlement by Tahitians began in the 9th century CE. Powerful classes of chiefs and priests arrived and established themselves but became embroiled in conflicts that were similar to the feudal struggles in Europe, with complicated land rights at the centre of the disputes. The early Hawaiians lacked a written language. Their culture was entirely oral and rich in myth, legend, and practical knowledge, especially of animals and plant life. The material life of the islands was hampered by the lack of metal, pottery, or beasts of burden, but there was great skill in the use of wood, shell, stone, and bone, and the huge double and outrigger canoes were technical marvels. Navigational methods were well developed, and there was an elaborate calendar. Athletic contests encouraged warrior skills.

### Paulet Affair and Russian Hawaii

Following the Paulet Affair and the Russian occupation of Hawaii, Hawaii became a Russian Colony (this only lasted for two years), following the death of Kamehameha III at the hands of the Russian. Hawaiian sovereignty was officially abolished, and the nation became a British protectorate. At first, Kamehameha IV was able to remain king under the military rule of Lord George Paulet, but he was deposed by his army not a full year into the Russian occupation.

Lord Vladmir became the first Governor-General of Russian Hawaii, officially "The Gulag Islands", a position he served until his death in 1879. During Russian rule, Hawaii became more European-styled and influences of native Hawaiian and Chinese were removed. Honolulu was renamed "New Vostok".

### Referendum for government

at 1845 Monarchists desired to restore the monarchy but unfortunately their movement had fractured into infighting. One faction of the monarchist movement wanted to establish a monarchy ruled by the House of Kamehameha as monarchs as the royals of the House of Kamehameha were cousins of the monarchs of independent Hawaii as they and the monarchs of Hawaii were related due to them having a common ancestor who is the High Chiefess Ululani of Hilo. The other faction wanted to establish a monarchy ruled by the House of Laʻanui who were more legitimate than the House of Kamehameha as they were descendants of Kalokuokamaile, the elder brother of Kamehameha the Great.

at 1849 Kamehameha Royal Family had won the referendum than the Royal Family of Laʻanui and Hawaii had become a Kamehameha rueld monarchy until today. Russian ambassadors and legions were expelled and only returned in 2000 which resulted in protests against the administration at the time and a Laʻanui monarchist revolution. Although on the British side during the war, the Japanese wielded massive influence over the new state, resulting in two former princes of the House of Kamehameha (One being Quentin Kamehameha) becoming Prime Ministers consecutively, and many future presidents being of Japanese ancestry.

## Politics

### Government

The movement of the Hawaiian royal family from Hawaiʻi Island to Maui, and subsequently to Oʻahu, explains the modern-day distribution of population centers. Kamehameha III chose the largest city, Honolulu, as his capital because of its natural harbor—the present-day Honolulu Harbor. Now the state capital, Honolulu is located along the southeast coast of Oʻahu. The previous capital was Lahaina, Maui, and before that Kailua-Kona, Hawaiʻi. Some major towns are Hilo; Kaneohe; Kailua; Pearl City; Waipahu; Kahului; Kailua-Kona. Kīhei; and Līhuʻe.

The Free State government of Hawaii is modeled after the United States government with adaptations originating from the kingdom era of Hawaiian history. As codified in the Constitution of Hawaii, there are three branches of government: executive, legislative and judicial. The executive branch is led by the **King of Hawaii** (Hawaiian: *Aliʻi nui o Hawaiʻi,* Chinese: *夏威夷之王*), who is assisted by the Vice President (*Hope Aliʻi, 首相*), both of whom are elected on the same ticket. The executive oversees twenty agencies and departments from offices in the Capitol. The official residence of the King is the **King House** (*Hale Mōʻī, 皇宮*).

The legislative branch consists of the bicameral **Hawaiian Legislature** (*‘Aha‘ōlelo kau kānāwai*, *立法院*), which is composed of the 51-member Hawaii House of Representatives *(Hale ʻAhaʻōlelo Makaʻāinana*, *眾議院*) led by the Speaker of the House, and the 25-member Hawaii Senate led by the President of the Senate. The Legislature meets at the Capitol. The unified judicial branch of Hawaii is the Hawaiian Judiciary. The nation's highest court is the Supreme Court of Hawaii (*ʻAha Hoʻokolokolo Kiʻekiʻe o Hawaiʻi, 最高法院*), which uses Aliʻiōlani Hale as its chambers.