167. Paradise Lost: The Taking of Hawaii

The podcast explores the tragic story of Queen Liliuokalani, the last monarch of Hawaii, and the colonization of Hawaii by American interests. It begins with Captain Cook's arrival and the subsequent wave of missionaries who "came to do good, but ended up doing well," followed by the influx of moneyed interests. The discussion covers Hawaii's geography, its colonization by Polynesians, and the impact of Western weaponry used by King Kamehameha to unite the islands. The hosts discuss the cultural clashes between missionaries and native Hawaiians, the increasing American trade, and the strategic importance of Pearl Harbor. The podcast also highlights the devastating effects of diseases brought by Europeans, the influx of workers from Asia, and the eventual annexation of Hawaii by the United States, driven by sugar planters like Sanford Dole.