Population
Decline: The
spread of foreign disease lead to a significant
increase in the mortality
rate
of the Native
Hawaiians resulting in substantial population
decline. The Iintroduction
of foreigners lead to inter-racial relations
which also significantly decreased
the percentage
of pure blooded Hawaiians "When
the islands were discovered the natives were
estimated at 400,000 but they seem to be
dying out, for the census of 1884 gives only
40,000 natives, and it is feared that in
the course of a few years the total extinction
of the race will ensue. The remainder of
the population consists of 4,218 half-castes,
2,170 of foreign decent, 17,939 Chinese,
and 12,237 foreigners. The Chinese are rapidly
monopolizing the local trade and are valued
laborers on the sugar plantations.” "Leprosy
is prevalent and the government has established
a settlement on Molokai, where sufferers
of this disease are isolated.”
Loss
of Native Cultural Dominance: A
large conversion rate to Christianity was
possible due to
the fall of the Native Hawaiian religion.
The native language eventually died out
which was most likely linked to the decline
in the native population and an increase
in the necessity of English for commerce
and trade. The English language also become dominant
due to the Missionary schools and acted
as a unifier in educationg many different
immigrant groups. Thus, the Native Hawaiian
language became immaterial and eventually
died out. Today, only a small portion of
the population can speak Hawaiian fluently.
The Native dress was eventually completely
substituted for more Westerm attire. The
Missionary schools
often required uniforms and the Monarchs
embraced
Western dress and customs. As the Hawaiian
Monarchs became increasingly open to maintaining
strong relations with the United States
the ever altering
power dynamic
became to swing more and more in the favor
of the United States. To read more on Hawaii's
journey to statehood.