Notably, the author doesn't gloss over Hawaii's past. He portrays the pre-colonial islanders as having a rich, complex history that is sometimes lurid and even horrifying, much like many other cultures around the world. I noticed particular similarities with the Aztecs in Mexico, but I recall some similar historical European atrocities.
While attending the University of Hawaii at Manoa, I took a class in Hawaiian history. In it, I learned about the haole (white) oligarchy's strategy to prevent labor organization by bringing in people who spoke different languages—essentially, a divide-and-conquer approach. The book I read details the difficult process through which statehood was imposed on the islanders, systematically stripping away their voting rights. Competing nations, particularly Japan, made alignment with the United States strategically necessary from the U.S. perspective, but I wish it had been handled better.
Overall, the book is reasonably well-balanced, and I recommend it to anyone interested in learning about the history of these beautiful islands.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/19286616-captive-paradise
by SteveRT78