Hawaiian Sovereignty: Do the Facts Matter

By Thurston Twigg-Smith and Dashka Slater

An attempt to correct some surrent revisionist histories about the Hawaii Revolution which led to democracy and annexation to the United States. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0966294513
• ISBN13: 9780966294514
• Release Date: April 1998
• Publisher: Goodale Pubs
• Length: 432 Pages
• Weight: 1.60 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.8" x 1.5" x 5.8"

Customer Reviews

Good reference book

It is true that this is a slightly difficult read, but only because Mr. Twigg-Smith attempts to be so thorough, and therefore sometimes resorts to redundancy to drive his points home. But it is not as difficult as some have indicated, for those who are truly interested in the topic. I think Mr. Twigg-Smith has done an admirable job of thoroughly researching, presenting, and footnoting his facts. The margin notes are helpful in synopsizing most paragraphs in the book, and in re-locating paragraphs for later reference. I admit that I have obvious political leanings, and that I now have an opinion on this subject, but I think it is important to note that those most critical of the book: 1. seem to have a political agenda; 2. attack Mr. Twigg-Smith personally, rather than factually (Mr. Smithers on The Simpsons?); 3. offer up Queen Liliuokalani's version of events as "true" (and just how do they know that? Because they believe it?); 4. offer up the Blount & Morgan report as the only other "accurate" report, precisely because it supports their position; and, most importantly, 5. NEVER DISPUTE ANY, SPECIFIC, WELL-DOCUMENTED AND FOOTNOTED FACTS presented in the book! Talk about the inconvenient truth! To those who would like to read another side of the argument, beyond the politically correct, Anti-U.S., revisionist history propounded by a vocal, few, perennial "victims" in the Socialist State of Hawaii, this is a must-read.

The History Of Aloha

Although most history is a dry read, Thurston does a passable job of bringing some life into the process. Although there will be those who see his tome as a misrepresentation of the facts, he keeps a clear neutral tone throughout and gives a broader and deeper perspective than most activists would dare. I think that the knee-jerk reaction to associate Native Hawaiians with Native Americans and their plight is part of the emotional reponse that some people have to his detailed history. Hopefully one can read this book and realize that there was no Trail of Tears in Hawaii, and that all hawaiians (kanaka and otherwise) can be proud of their heritage and mixed cultures.

Hawaiian Soverenty. Do the facts matter?

This reveralation will not sit well to those who want to turn back time based on twisted facts. How refreashing to read history from the point of view of a non-revisionist. As a resident of the state we see the raceist retorict of the radicial supported by the very paper that was founded by Twigg-Smith founded. May be there is an agenda here? Wouldn't it be nice to say 'get over it and get a job' however, this would be difficult to the lagerst welfare state in the US. Again there is insight to the real position of the US goverment and motives of the overly revered Queen in the reveolution. What a insight to the real feeling of the citizens in the early 1900. All the facts make the moderen day wineing of the sovereignty movement foundless. "The race problem solvers do not want the patient to get well' B. T. Washington-1911