In 1843, the Hawaiian Kingdom was the first non-European country recognised as an independent state via the Anglo-Franco Proclamation. By 1893, that same country had over 21 treaties and 90 embassies operating worldwide; yet, this pre-United States rich history is often not widely known or presented in American education. Is this a coincidence or a matter of purpose? When information boundaries and patriotic-serving narratives are applied to historical truths, entire generations of progress can be swiftly obliterated in the blink of an eye. Nevertheless, through rediscovered histories unearthed in newspapers and archives, we are finding that it was 1800’s Hawai'i that was a true leader of democracy in the world. Listeners will be introduced to newly understood political concepts and innovations from historical Hawai'i that are not widely accessible or taught.
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