Hawaiians

Hawaiians refer to people of Hawaii, including Native Hawaiians, the indigenous people of the Hawaiian Islands, and others who live in Hawaii. Native Hawaiians descend from Polynesian navigators who settled the archipelago centuries ago and developed a distinct language, culture, and social system.

The earliest settlement is dated to between 300 and 800 CE; traditional society was organized around aliʻi (chiefs) and the ahupuaʻa land-divisions, with a culture that featured navigation, fishing, farming, hula, and mele. In 1778, Captain James Cook’s voyage brought sustained contact with the outside world. The islands were eventually unified under Kamehameha I, forming the Kingdom of Hawaii, which endured until the overthrow of the monarchy in 1893 and subsequent annexation by the United States in 1898. Hawaii became a U.S. state in 1959.

Language and culture: ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi is the indigenous language; it declined in the 19th and early 20th centuries but underwent revival from the late 20th century, with language-immersion programs and schools. Cultural practices like hula, mele (songs), surfing, and voyaging arts have been central to Hawaiian identity. Traditional arts and crafts include lei making, featherwork, building canoes, and navigation.

Modern era: Hawaiians include a diverse, multiethnic population; many identify as Native Hawaiian, part-Hawaiian, or simply Hawaiian. The Hawaiian Renaissance of the 1960s–1980s spurred cultural revival and political advocacy, including the Office of Hawaiian Affairs established in 1978 to manage the needs and rights of Native Hawaiians. Contemporary issues include sovereignty, land use, language revitalization, and preserving cultural practices while integrating into the broader Hawaiian society. Diaspora Hawaiians also maintain links to the islands.