History 284W: Hawaiian History

Study Guide: Unit Two

Topics: -- Pre-Contact Hawaiian Politics -- Captain Cook-- Rise of Kamehameha -- Disease & Depopulation -- Missionaries & Merchants -- Transformation of Pono

After completing the assigned reading, listing to the lectures, and participating in class activities, you should be able to:

describe:

1. the lessons learned in the story of ‘Umi (i.e. birth rank, pono behavior, religion, 'imihaku).
2. the reasons for Captain Cook's three voyages into the Pacific, and why they are termed voyages of discovery.
3. why the Hawaiians thought Cook was Lono.
4. the effects that Cook's visit had on the Hawaiians.
5. how Kamehameha rises to power (i.e. inheritance, military abilities, foreign weapons & men, alliances, timing).
6. the Metcalfe incident, and how it benefited Kamehameha.
7. the roles played by Brown & Vancouver in 1793-94.
8. why David Stannard believes that the pre-contact Hawaiian population was much higher than the 300,000 estimate.
9. how the American Protestant missionaries influenced the ruling ali‘i.
10. why trading ships came to Hawaii.
11. incidents of struggle between missionaries and merchants.
12. the important people involved and the reasons for the overthrow of the ‘Aikapu.
13. why Keöpüolani and Ka‘ahumanu converted to Christianity and the effect their conversion had on the Hawaiian people.
14. the role played by American Calvinist missionaries in the transformation of pono.