Hawaii: An Occupied Kingdom

Sunny beaches, palms, and carefree surfers – that’s how the world sees Hawaii. But behind the picture-postcard paradise lies the tragedy of a people who had their homeland and identity stolen from them.

In 1893, the United States overthrew the islands’ legitimate government headed by Queen Liliʻuokalani. Since then, Hawaii has been regarded as America’s 50th state, but the kingdom never signed any treaty surrendering its sovereignty.

Historians argue that, legally, Hawaii is an occupied territory. Today, native Hawaiians are forced to feel like strangers in their own land. To counter the relentless Americanization, they are learning the language of their ancestors, bringing back their traditional face tattoos, and singing long-forgotten chants.

The stolen life of the islands’ indigenous people – in our new film.

Watch “Hawaii: An Occupied Kingdom” on RTD website and on RT’s live feed. The time of the broadcast is available on RT’s schedule page.