High School

A 2001 article by the StarBulletin stated, "WHAT WAS ONCE a 'Dynasty in the Pacific' and the first Hawaii company to generate $1 billion in revenue is now just a golf course in Waikele, some land on Maui and Kauai and a lot of legal troubles." The article was talking about which company?

Answer :

Final answer:

The specific company mentioned as a 'Dynasty in the Pacific' is not named in the provided materials, but it likely pertained to the sugar industry, which was central to Hawaii's economy and saw significant influence from American businessmen during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Explanation:

The company referenced in the 2001 StarBulletin article as having once been a 'Dynasty in the Pacific' and the first Hawaii company to generate $1 billion in revenue is not explicitly named in the provided materials. However, given the historical context of Hawaiian economic development and struggle for control over land and resources, it is likely that the company was part of the sugar industry, which played a significant role in Hawaii's economy. The sugar industry was deeply intertwined with the political changes in Hawaii, especially during the late 19th and early 20th centuries when American businessmen exerted substantial influence on the islands' politics and economy.

The overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy and subsequent annexation by the United States led to a massive transformation of Hawaii's economic landscape. Native Hawaiians lost control of nearly two million acres of land, with American investors and sugar plantations coming to dominate the economy. The rapid industrialization based on sugar production, along with the enforcement of policies that favored American business interests over the wellbeing of native populations, created a long-term impact on Hawaiian society and the distribution of wealth. It is within this historical context that a once-dominant company in Hawaii could have experienced a decline.

Despite the challenges to their way of life and sovereignty, Native Hawaiians have continued to resist and maintain their connection to the land, as seen in examples like Pu'uhonua O Wai'anae, a self-governed village community that is home to many houseless individuals.