Annexation's dividends

Though unsaid, results beneficial to land and people

Earlier this month, I witnessed the centennial anniversary of Hawaii's annexation o the United States.

From all the press and media coverage, I got the impression that this was a bad thing. Native Hawaiians mourned the loss of their land (which is admittedly not fair), and staged marches in Washington, D.C. to raise public awareness.

As a Mainlander, I won't even presume to know the depth of the pain past actions have caused Native Hawaiians.

However, as an American, I can list a few of the benefits associated with statehood that may have gone unsaid or unnoticed during th past month. That way, you can decide for yourself whether the events of 1893 to 1898 were travesties of justice or changes for the better.

The first benefit annexation brought to Hawai`i was access to the American market without trade barriers.

In the late 1800s, sugar exports to the U.S. dominated the local economy, and there was tremendous pressure to eliminate tariffs in order to keep prices low.

When the U.S. raised the tariff on imported sugar, the cost of Hawaiian sugar went up for consumers, causing a decrease in sales.

Plantation owners ensured the strength of the economy by their movements toward incorporation into the United States.

A second positive result of the annexation was the fact Hawai`i had a much larger security force it could draw upon.

The Territory of Hawai`i proved indispensable for American success in the Pacific theater of World War II, and reaped the benefits of having tens of thousands of soldiers and sailors passing through.

A generation later, as the G.I.s who served here married, had children, and accumulated enough wealth to afford a vacation abroad, Hawai'i took advantage of the veterans' sense of nostalgia and built up the tourism-based economy you see today.

As a result of the two waves of Mainland spending (first defense, then tourism), Hawai`i was able to evolve into the modernized paradise it is today.

Think about it -- were it not for the annexation, Hawai`i have been turned into a Japanese colony similar to what Taiwan was from 1895 to 1945.

Besides the economic gains, there have been a number of social advancements in Hawai`i due to its association with the U.S.

Immigration, a lack of formal class titles, and redistribution of wealth have helped blur the distinctions in t he traditional three-class structure, producing a more even demographic curve.

Instead of royalty, nobility, and commoner, Hawai`i now has a system of equality that, at least in name, recognizes no such thing as class or exemption from justice due to position.

A fourth consideration is the fact a more representative government has ensued because of Hawaii's close ties to America.

Should Ben Cayetano prove unpopular enough, he can be voted out of office easily enough by a simple majority of voters. A king of queen is not so easily ousted.

Lastly, the surplus in the balance of payments to and from the Environmental Protection Agency allows us to preserve our unique environment far better than if we were independent.

Considering Hawai`i has by far the largest percentage of the nation's endangered species, independence might be too costly for our environment.

From social and economic benefits to security, equality, and environmental ramifications, annexation has been shown to have numerous positive aspects. Both the `aina and the po`e have benefited, and that is, after all, what it's all about.