Introduction
The discovery of Hawai’i and other Pacific Islands by Polynesian explorers is one of the most remarkable human achievements in history. The discovery and migration to the remote islands of Hawai’i began before the birth of Christ. Polynesian explorers began to settle in the largest ocean on Earth over an area of more than ten million square miles and although this migration took over one thousand years to complete, navigating these islands involved finding and fixing in mind the island’s position, which at times was less than a mile in diameter and the highest landmark being a coconut tree (Kawaharada, n.d.). These sea-faring adventurers were expert ocean navigators and astronomers who battled enormous seas, raging winds and extreme currents in search of new lands where they travelled, traded and settled throughout this vast ocean area over many centuries, long before the European explorers arrived with their tall-ships and navigational aids (Terrell, 1986, p. 1).
Today Hawai’i is perceived as paradise by millions of visitors each year. There were over eight million visitors to Hawai’i in 2012 (Hawai’i Tourism Authority, 2012, p. 9). Whether tourists come to relax on the pristine beach or to explore the exotic rainforests and waterfalls, Hawai’i is a little slice of heaven (The Guardian, n.d.).
The Indigenous People of Hawai’i
The indigenous people of Hawai’i are known as the Kanaka Maoli (Cunningham & Stanley, 2003, p 403). The term indigenous peoples has no agreed upon definition (Stavenhagen, 2004, p. 1; Weaver, 2010, p. 43). Different countries use definitions of the term to suit their circumstances and context and others do not accept the term at all. Also other terms are commonly used for indigenous peoples such as: aboriginal, native, original, first nations, tribal, or other similar concepts (Stavenhagen, 2004, p. 1; Cunningham & Stanley, 2003, p 403).
The Kanaka Maoli people are of Polynesian descent
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