Hawaiian Kingdom

The Hawaiian Kingdom was an independent nation established in 1795 when Hawaiian leaders unified the islands under a constitutional monarchy. It functioned as a sovereign state with its own government, laws, and foreign relations until 1893, when external forces, primarily American business interests, overthrew the monarchy. The United States then annexed Hawaii in 1898, ending its independence. Today, some Hawaiians and scholars view the Kingdom’s history as a foundational part of their cultural identity and sovereignty aspirations, emphasizing its long-standing status as a recognized, self-governing nation prior to annexation.