North Polynesia (1828–1839 CE)
Transition and Early Reign of Kamehameha III
Following the death of Kamehameha the Great in 1819, the Kingdom of Hawaii experienced significant political and cultural transformations under his successors. His son, Kamehameha II (Liholiho), abolished traditional Hawaiian religious practices and the kapu system, initiating profound societal shifts. Shortly thereafter, Christian missionaries from New England arrived in 1820, significantly impacting education, religion, and governance across the islands.
Kauikeaouli, ascending the Hawaiian throne as King Kamehameha III on June 6, 1825, at only eleven years of age, initially relied heavily upon the guidance of his stern mother and regent, Kaʻahumanu, and the high chief William Pitt Kalanimoku. From 1824 to 1832, real political authority rested primarily with Kaʻahumanu. Upon her death in 1832, she was succeeded by Kauikeaouli’s half-sister, Kinaʻu, who herself passed away at the age of twenty-five, leaving the young king burdened by the full responsibilities of governance.
By the time Kauikeaouli assumed authority, the native Hawaiian population had dramatically declined to approximately 150,000, a drastic reduction to less than one-third of its size at the time of Captain Cook’s arrival in 1778. This number would again halve during his reign, partly due to devastating epidemics, including smallpox.
Legal and Religious Changes
Under the threat of war from France, Roman Catholicism was legalized in Hawaii, marking a significant departure from previous policies influenced by Protestant advisors. This legalization occurred alongside the establishment of the islands' first statutory law code in 1839, reflecting an increased Western legal influence and formalization of governance structures.
Economic Development and Foreign Influence
Hawaii experienced substantial economic growth driven by burgeoning sugar and whaling industries. This prosperity attracted numerous Western settlers and entrepreneurs, further increasing foreign pressure and involvement in the kingdom's internal affairs. Honolulu became a crucial trading hub, with its population exceeding ten thousand by the late 1820s.
Continuing Expansion Efforts
Despite his rule over most of the Hawaiian Islands from Oʻahu eastward, Kamehameha III's father, Kamehameha the Great, had failed to incorporate the western islands of Kauaʻi and Niʻihau into his dominion. In 1796, using Honolulu as a base, Kamehameha I built a forty-ton ship in an attempt to invade these islands, but the effort was disrupted by a rebellion on Hawaiʻi Island, forcing his return. A subsequent invasion attempt in 1803 was also thwarted by disease among his warriors.
Throughout this period, the influx of wealth and technology from maritime fur trade helped strengthen the Kingdom of Hawaii both politically and economically. Non-native plants and animals introduced during the early trading era included beans, cabbage, onions, squash, pumpkins, melons, oranges, cattle, horses, sheep, and goats, significantly altering the agricultural landscape of the islands.
Catholic Missionaries Arrive
The first Catholic mission to Hawaii was established under the Prefecture Apostolic of the Sandwich Islands by Pope Leo XII, appointing Alexis Bachelot, a member of the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary (Picpus Fathers), as its first prefect. The Picpus Fathers, departing from Bordeaux in 1826, arrived at Honolulu Harbor on July 7, 1827, initially refused entry by Protestant advisors. They ultimately disembarked two days later, on July 9, coinciding with the Feast of Our Lady of Peace, marking the formal introduction of Roman Catholicism into Hawaii.
These transformative events of 1828 to 1839 established foundational shifts in governance, religious tolerance, and economic structures, profoundly shaping the trajectory of the Hawaiian Kingdom.
