16. Hawaiian Culture Under Threat
After the overthrow, Hawaiian language and cultural traditions faced systematic suppression. Schools were mandated to teach only in English, and many native practices, such as hula, were discouraged or outright banned. This pattern mirrored the experiences of other indigenous peoples whose cultures were targeted for erasure by colonial powers. Generations of Hawaiians grew up disconnected from their ancestral roots, as the dominant society sought to reshape the islands’ identity. Read about Hawaiian cultural history.
