Hawai'i: Eight Hundred Years of Political and Economic Change by Sumner La Croix Summary

1. How Hawaii’s Māhele land division reshaped property rights and economic power.
2. The sugar industry’s pivotal role in Hawaii’s annexation by the United States.
3. Missionary influence catalyzed Western legal systems in 19th-century Hawaii.
4. From traditional governance to a “mature natural state”: Hawaii’s political evolution.
5. Sandalwood trade collapse and its impact on Indigenous labor systems.
6. The overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy and its economic consequences.
7. How the Big Five oligarchy controlled Hawaii’s economy until statehood.
8. Post-WWII tourism boom transformed Hawaii’s identity and land use.
9. Native Hawaiian resistance to cultural erosion amid globalization pressures.
10. Land redistribution strategies from Kamehameha to U.S. territorial rule.
11. The paradox of Hawaii’s statehood: Economic growth vs. Indigenous displacement.
12. Eight centuries of adaptive institutions in Hawaii’s struggle for sovereignty.

About the Author

Sumner La Croix, author of Hawai'i: Eight Hundred Years of Political and Economic Change, is a renowned economic historian and Professor Emeritus at the University of Hawai‘i’s Economic Research Organization (UHERO).

With a PhD in Economics from the University of Washington, La Croix specializes in analyzing political institutions, property rights, and globalization’s impact on Pacific economies—themes central to his definitive examination of Hawai‘i’s transformation from Polynesian settlement to U.S. statehood.

His award-winning research, including a 2021 Economic Record paper on Australia’s copper mining boom, blends rigorous historical analysis with economic theory. A frequent contributor to academic discourse, La Croix’s work is cited in publications like the Journal of Economic History and endorsed by scholars for its framework linking institutional evolution to global economic shifts.

Published by the University of Chicago Press, Hawai‘i is recognized as an essential resource for understanding the interplay of colonization, resource management, and cultural adaptation in the Pacific.

FAQs About This Book

What is Hawai'i: Eight Hundred Years of Political and Economic Change about?

Hawai'i: Eight Hundred Years of Political and Economic Change traces the islands' evolution from Polynesian settlement around 1200 CE to modern statehood, analyzing how political systems, land rights, and global economic forces shaped Hawai‘i’s development. Sumner La Croix emphasizes the 19th-century U.S.-Hawai‘i reciprocity treaties, sugar industry dominance, and the 1893 overthrow of the monarchy as pivotal events.

Who should read Hawai'i: Eight Hundred Years of Political and Economic Change?

This book is ideal for historians, economics students, and readers interested in colonialism, indigenous rights, or Hawai‘i’s unique trajectory. La Croix’s blend of economic theory and historical analysis offers insights for policymakers studying land redistribution and institutions.

Is Hawai'i: Eight Hundred Years of Political and Economic Change worth reading?

Yes, for its rigorous synthesis of archaeological, historical, and economic research. La Croix provides a nuanced perspective on how global trade, annexation, and oligarchic control (e.g., the “Big Five” corporations) reshaped Hawai‘i’s society—a valuable resource for understanding persistent issues like land sovereignty.

What are the main arguments in Hawai'i: Eight Hundred Years of Political and Economic Change?

La Croix argues that Hawai‘i’s political order repeatedly adapted to external economic pressures, from pre-contact resource management to U.S. annexation. Key themes include the role of property rights in maintaining power and how the 1876 reciprocity treaty destabilized the monarchy, paving the way for American control.

How does Hawai'i: Eight Hundred Years of Political and Economic Change address colonialism?

The book critiques U.S. colonial impacts, detailing how sugar plantations and annexation disrupted Native Hawaiian governance. La Croix highlights the 1893 overthrow of Queen Lili‘uokalani and the lingering effects of land redistribution on indigenous communities.

What role does the sugar industry play in the book’s narrative?

Sugar production drove Hawai‘i’s 19th-century economy, incentivizing U.S. investment and political interference. La Croix ties the industry’s growth to the reciprocity treaty, which bound Hawai‘i to American markets and accelerated annexation.

How does Sumner La Croix’s expertise inform the book?

As an economic historian, La Croix applies cliometric methods to analyze land tenure systems and trade policies. His career-long focus on institutional change grounds the book’s exploration of Hawai‘i’s adaptability.

What are the criticisms of Hawai'i: Eight Hundred Years of Political and Economic Change?

Some scholars note the book’s narrow focus on economic structures over cultural narratives. It also leans heavily on Western institutional frameworks, which may overlook Native Hawaiian perspectives on sovereignty.

How does Hawai'i: Eight Hundred Years of Political and Economic Change compare to other histories of Hawai‘i?

Unlike broader cultural histories, La Croix prioritizes economic drivers like trade treaties and land laws. The book complements works like Shoal of Time by emphasizing policy over personalities.

What key events does the book highlight in Hawai‘i’s path to statehood?

Critical milestones include the 1848 Māhele land division, the 1876 reciprocity treaty, the 1893 monarchy overthrow, and the 1959 statehood vote. La Croix ties these to shifting power dynamics between Native Hawaiians, settlers, and the U.S. government.

How does the book explain the impact of the “Big Five” oligarchy?

La Croix details how these sugar-focused firms monopolized Hawai‘i’s economy until statehood, influencing politics to favor plantation interests. Their decline post-1959 marked a shift toward tourism and diversified industry.

What modern issues in Hawai‘i does the book help contextualize?

The analysis sheds light on contemporary debates over land use, indigenous rights, and economic dependence on tourism. Understanding historical property systems is key to current sovereignty movements.