Unfamiliar Fishes by Sarah Vowell

The provided text is an excerpt from the book "Unfamiliar Fishes" by Sarah Vowell, which is a historical narrative focusing on the Americanization of Hawaii between the arrival of Protestant missionaries in 1820 and the island's annexation in 1898. The author frames the historical account through observations of Hawaiian culture and politics, contrasting the New England missionary agenda—which sought to impose Christianity and capitalism—with the existing indigenous traditions, such as the reverence for the land and the hula. Key figures discussed include the first Hawaiian convert, Henry Obookiah, the missionary families like the Thurstons and Binghams, and Hawaiian royals such as King Kalakaua and Queen Liliuokalani. Ultimately, the text explores the tensions and consequences of American expansionism and Manifest Destiny, highlighting the political maneuvering by missionary descendants like Sanford Dole and Lorrin Thurston that led to the overthrow of the monarchy.