Today is Discoverers’ Day in Hawaii, but not an official state holiday. By not observing Columbus Day, Hawaii distanced itself from celebrating the colonization of Native Americans.
Columbus Day became a national holiday in 1937, enacted by US President Franklin D. Roosevelt, and a day off for many workers. Hawaii, however, changed the name to Discovers’ Day in 1971 “to honor all discoverers, including Pacific and Polynesian navigators.” It remained a state holiday until 1988. Interestingly, when Columbus Day was removed as a state holiday, Martin Luther King Jr. Day was added to the roster.
The second Monday in October shall be known as Discoverers’ Day, in recognition of the Polynesian discoverers of the Hawaiian Islands, provided that this day is not and shall not be construed to be a state holiday. — Hawaii State Legislature (1988).
While not a perfect analog to Columbus’ “discovery” of North America, Captain Cook’s arrival in Hawaii in 1778 and its consequences played out similarly. The native population was decimated by diseases introduced by the new arrivals, which killed off as much as 90% of the native population. Missionaries arrived forty-two years after first contact (1820), intent on converting and “civilizing” the Hawaiian people, and inspired through their actions by the famous saying, “They came to the islands to do good, and they did right well.” Plantations were started by entrepreneurial westerners eager to exploit the land’s fertility 15 years later (1835). With a little help from their friends in the US military 58 years after, in 1893, they soon wrested control of the islands from the Hawaiian Kingdom.
Given this history, it’s no surprise that the state might want to distance itself from a holiday celebrating Columbus. However, the name “Discoverers’ Day” is vague enough that anyone hearing it without reading the bill’s text might easily mistake which discoverers it is intended to honor. This, along with the prohibition against making it an actual state holiday, suggests that compromises had to be made to get the bill through the state legislature.
Many other places have also moved to celebrate a different holiday, be it Indigenous Peoples’ Day or Native American Day. In 2014 Hawaii again saw the introduction of a bill proposing to change the name of the holiday, this time from Discoverers’ Day to Indigenous Peoples’ Day. This bill did not pass.
The question of who gets credit for discovering a given place continues to be a subject of controversy throughout the world. It is perhaps worth noting that when the peoples who would become known as Hawaiians first arrived here from Tahiti, the islands had already been inhabited for about 500 years. Some believe that Polynesians had discovered North America and South America well before Christopher Columbus’ visit.
Is Columbus Day Monday a holiday for you?
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Ben T says
Columbus did not discover “North America”. He discovered the “Americas”. He landed in San Salvador, Bahamas, on October 12 1492. Celebrating Columbus day because he discovered “America” is a lie that has been told to school children since the 50s. Plus how can you discover a land that had been occupied by a people for thousands of years?
Bill K. says
Macadamia nuts are yummy. Spam…I can take it or leave it but it’s best pan fried.
Ernie S. says
Whether or Not a person wants to give credit to Columbus seems to be left up to the College and University Professors that have been putting Radical Idealisms into their curriculum. Most movement on these topics, and many others, have originated there and moved into the “Conversation” quickly gaining momentum with each successive graduation class. Eventually the Consequences will be known for this absurd use of Teaching, the Professors long retired on excellent pensions well removed from the Problems that they have initiated.
Mary T says
I was taught that it was the US Coast Guard that supported the haole plantation owners in their overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy. But I don’t want to rely entirely on my memory. So I googled it, found vague references to “the military” then found the following on history.com:
“In 1893, a group of American expatriates and sugar planters supported by a division of U.S. Marines deposed Queen Liliuokalani, the last reigning monarch of Hawaii.”
So … you might want to remove reference to the “US Navy” in the story above and replace it with “US Marines”.
Thank you.
Rod W says
Mary,
The US Marines today has 4 Divisions. The reference to a division of US Marines cannot possibly be correct – more like a company of Marines.
Also, as I understand it, the Queen left office without engaging the Marines in combat and no one was injured are killed.
I’m not supporting or opposing the decision to overthrow the monarchy, I’m just challenging the size of the Marine contingent.
Nash B says
If I understand correctly, there was a large contingent of Hawaiians gathered and ready to fight, and the queen would not give her approval? Not wanting bloodshed. (I def could be wrong tho)
Rod W says
Nash,
We all could be wrong. Even eyewitness accounts are unreliable. And, today, even with video, people see different things.
The Queen decided to not resist. And, with a 94% vote, in 1959, Hawaiians voted to become a state of the United States.
For those who might want to leave the Union, perhaps a push for an unambiguous amendment to the Constitution offering a pathway. Without that, not state will ever be allowed to leave.And, for a state like Hawaii – so dependent on the federal govt for finances – it would be a huge mistake.
Ernie S. says
Much like the South Americans and Others worldwide that have entered Illegally into the United States, they show Others how to do it. Instead of waiting for something that won’t happen there’s always filling out the paperwork and hopefully moving to a more preferred country. I’ve considered it a few times but have remained a US Citizen. So many possibilities, try a few out, and maybe you’ll find a Better Place awaiting you, good luck to all who choose to see.
JohannesL says
The Marines are a branch of the Navy.
Rod Walsh says
We have a Department of the Navy.
The U.S. Marine Corps is a branch of the Department of the Navy.
The U.S. Navy is a branch of the Department of the Navy.
USMC 1963-1966
Co-author “Semper Fi: Business Leadership the Marine Corps Way”
Christie T says
Thank you for bringing light to a quiet feeling so many of us have had regarding Hawaiian history. People can be ruthless and greedy,and Im so tired of seeing it play out over and over.