19th century Hawaii

In the 19th century, Hawaii underwent significant changes, moving from a traditional monarchy to increased contact with Western nations. The arrival of missionaries in the 1820s introduced Christianity and Western education, while whaling and sugar plantations drove economic growth. This led to the influx of immigrant labor, notably from China and Japan. Tensions arose between native Hawaiians and foreign settlers, culminating in the overthrow of Queen Liliʻuokalani in 1893. Hawaii's strategic location attracted U.S. interests, ultimately leading to its annexation in 1898 and later statehood in 1959, profoundly altering its cultural and political landscape.