We are currently featuring our first coffee from the USA! This LION Coffee brew is a medium roast, has a mellow taste with a sweet, delicate and slightly citrus finish. Hawaii is the only state in the USA that produces its own coffee and has been doing so since the early 1800s.
Geography
Hawaii is located in the Pacific Ocean to the southwest of the continental U.S., southeast of Japan and northeast of Australia. Hawaii is known for its tropical climate, unique topography, and natural environment. The Hawaiian Islands were formed by undersea volcanic activity from what is known as a hotspot. As a result of the hotspot, all of the islands were once volcanic, and today only the Big Island is active because it is located the closest to the hotspot. Hawaii is made up of eight main islands: Hawaii, Maui, Oahu, Kahoolawe, Lanai, Molokai, Kauai, Niihau. Over 100 smaller islands are also part of the state.
History
The earliest inhabitants of the islands were Polynesian settlers from the Marquesas Islands around 300BC. 18th century British navigator, Captain James Cook, made the first recorded contact with the islands in 1778. As a result, many European explorers and traders began to visit the islands. The Europeans brought new diseases which killed a large portion of the islands' population.
In 1810, after years of civil unrest as chiefs fought for power over all the islands, King Kamehameha became the single ruler. The Kamehameha Dynasty was the reining monarchy until it was overthrown in 1893 by Western businessmen and government officials with aid by the U.S military. The Republic of Hawaii was established in 1894. In 1898, the Spanish-American War broke out, and the strategic use of the naval base at Pearl Harbor during the war convinced Congress to approve formal annexation. Two years later, Hawaii was organized into a formal U.S. territory and in 1959 entered the United States as the 50th state.
Pearl Harbor was attacked by the Japanese in 1941, an event which catapulted the US into WWII. Post-WWII Hawaii saw an increase in population, tourism, and real estate values.
Beginning in the 1980s, a sovereignty movement emerged in which Native Hawaiians demanded reparations for the U.S. takeover of their kingdom. The Hawaiian sovereignty movement views the overthrow of the Kingdom of Hawaii in 1893 as illegal, and views the subsequent annexation of Hawaii by the United States as illegal as well.
In 1993 U.S. Pres. Bill Clinton apologized for America’s role in the overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy. Native Hawaiians continue to demand land rights and the right to self-governance. The establishment of a Native Hawaiian governing entity continues to be debated between Native Hawaiians and those who oppose ancestry-based sovereignty.
Economy
Sugar has been the major export from Hawaii since the late 1700s. Sugar plantation owners from America were part of the coup d'état which overthrew the last monarch, Queen Lili’uokalani.
In the 1960’s, tourism increased greatly and today makes up 21% of the Hawaiian economy.
Livestock raising, lumbering and commercial fishing are other important sources of income. Sugar cane and pineapples are Hawaii's most valuable crops. Hawaii also produces large quantities of flowers for export. Coffee, macadamia nuts, avocados, bananas, guavas, papayas and tomatoes are also grown in Hawaii.
Culture
Hula is the original dance of Hawaiian natives. The annual competition held in Hilo brings Hula Halau from all over the world to compete and show their knowledge of Hawaiian culture. The Merrie Monarch Festival is nationally televised and teaches people all around the world about Hawaiian culture
Hawaii still honors its ali’i (royalty) from the past. Kamehameha Day on June 11 honors King Kamehameha the Great and Prince Kuhio Day is on March 26 honoring Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalanianaole. Both dates are Hawaii state holidays and are marked with festivals and parades.
Surfing is a large part of Hawaiian culture. The sport dates back to 12th century Polynesia and was first written about by Clerke, a ship's officer on Capt. Cook’s HMS Resolution. Clerke was the first European to document surfing in Hawaii. Each November and December, the North Shore is the site of major surfing competitions known collectively as the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing.
Baseball is popular in Hawaii and dates back to the 1850s when Alexander Cartwright, one of the inventors of the game, relocated to the islands. In the 1920s a semi-professional league was founded and from 1961-1988 the Hawaiian Islanders were a prominent franchise in the minor leagues. Since 1993 the Hawaiian Baseball winter league has launched professional players from the U.S. and Asia.
In 2018, a team of 12-year old Peachtree City boys beat out teams from all over the southeast to play on the international stage in Williamsport, PA in the Little League World Series. Peachtree City lost to the powerhouse team from Honolulu in the first game of the series, and later worked their way back to the US Championship game in which they played Honolulu’s team again. Hawaii beat PTC 3-0 and went on to win the International Championship game against South Korea 3-0, bringing home the 3rd LLWS title to Hawaii. The teams from Hawaii and Peachtree City shared the honor of the Jack Losch Sportsmanship award at the end of the tournament. One of our Eastbrook Community team members has a son who was on the Peachtree City team.
It’s a tradition in Hawaii to share nature’s bounty and avoid waste. When a backyard tree produces “too much” fruit, Hawaiians will take a box to work, drop some off for neighbors, or give it away to others who will enjoy it. Huge clusters of ripening bananas can be seen hanging in a hotel lobby, a store, or other public spaces placed about for people to enjoy. But the rule is, take just enough for you.
Today
Early British influence is reflected in the state flag, which bears a Union Jack.
The population is estimated at 1.46 million. Only 10% of the population identify as Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander. The largest group on the island is Asian at 37% followed by 25% white and 24% two or more races.
The largest religious groups are Roman Catholics and Protestants. Small groups of Buddhists and other Asian religions are also on the Islands.
Hawaii is the only U.S. state with two official languages, Hawaiian and English.
COVID-19 has caused the highest unemployment rates in Hawaii after years of having one of the lowest unemployment rates in the U.S. COVID-19 travel restrictions for tourists have let up this summer, but with a recent surge in Covid positive cases, stricter travel regulations may be reinstated. As of August 19th travelers can enter Hawaii with proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test 72 hours prior to flight. Without either of these, travelers must self quarantine for 10 days upon entering Hawaii.