“Little Chinese Lady in Court”: The Impact of U.S. Policy on Territorial Hawai?i’s Asian Population Through a Familial Lens
- Harrison W. Inefuku
(Iowa State University)
Abstract
Today, individuals of Asian descent make up the largest segment of Hawai?i’s population, with the U.S. Census Bureau estimating 37% of the state population identifying as Asian alone. While the history of Asians in Hawai?i dates to the independent Kingdom of Hawai?i in the 18th century, it has been heavily influenced by the United States, American settlers, and their descendants. This presentation will examine how the economic, political, and foreign policy of the United States shaped and impacted Hawai?i’s Asian communities during Hawai?i’s territorial period (1898–1959), using personal family history to examine the sugar industry and Okinawan immigration to Hawai?i, as well as the impact of the Chinese Exclusion Act on Hawai?i’s Chinese community.