The film Act of War tells the tale of the unfair overthrow of the Hawaiian Nation. In 1893, armed troops from the U.S.S. Boston, a steel war ship; landed at Honolulu. Much to the surprise of local natives, a vicious battle was fabricated on the island of Oahu; leading to the end of the ruling chiefs of Hawaii, and its indigenous culture. Hawai’i was initially reconstituted as an independent republic. But ultimately, the goal of the revolutionaries to annex the islands into to the United States was accomplished in 1898. United States President Grover Cleveland was documented describing the event as an “an act of war.” Decades later, the U.S. Congress passed a joint resolution admitting the illegal taking of Hawai'i and formally apologizing to the Hawaiian people. President Clinton signed the resolution in November of 1993.
It is no surprise that Hawaiians from this era, as well as today feel betrayed by their own country. Their beliefs and “aloha” lifestyle was stripped and taken away from them. Today the fight for freedom to live their Hawaiian lifestyle is alive and well. This film used many Stylized re-enactments, archival photos and film, political cartoons, historic quotes and presentations by scholars to tell Hawaiian history through Hawaiian eyes. The styles of this film made for a very hard hitting piece that any visitor or resident to the Hawaiian Islands should be aware of. I think the film has detrimental subjects missing from the documentary. It fails to mention the positive outcomes following the Spanish American war for Hawaii. Possibilities of what might have come had the US not gained sovereignty of Hawaii. A document of how life has changed since the war might give the film a positive ending.
The Hawaiian Islands are a very special place; unlike any other place in the US. For us mainlanders who come to visit and live in Hawaii we are able to do so because of the end of indigenous and hereditary ruling chiefs of early Hawaii. Although it may have been immoral and illegal, I can’t help but bring my bias into play that the United States is the greatest place in the world to live. Therefore I believe it was for the better that the US annexed Hawaii in 1898. Had the US left Hawaii alone it probably would have been annexed by another power, possibly by a more brutal colony at that time. By annexing Hawaii the US was able to secure a place in the Pacific. We were able to stop rival and possibly more brutal powers from obtaining their territory. US created more advanced military forces to protect the Hawaiian Islands. I believe Hawaiian people have benefited from democracy. They’ve gained security, and a higher standard of living. All the while Hawaii remains one of the most special and cultural places in the country.
Act of War
