Going to Paradise?: From Japan to Hawaii

For my final project I will be researching the movement of the Japanese across the Pacific Ocean to a set of islands known as Hawaii. In this research process, I will be exploring the cause for this movement and the quality of life in this new home. I am also interested in researching how the annexation of Hawaii as a territory by the United States effected, if at all, Japanese immigration.

During the late 19^th century, we begin to see a trickling of Japanese people leaving their native land and moving to Hawaii. King David Kalakaua, elected to rule Hawaii by the Hawaiian legislature in 1874, is known for his revival of Hawaiian culture and traditions.[1] But what I am most interested in is his global visions. How did his goal for expanding international relations foster Japanese- Hawaiian connections? What was the turning point for the large movement of Japanese people to Hawaii?

In addition, I will be researching and further investigating two questions about this new life in Hawaii. Was this new life in Hawaii what they had expected? And was this new life better than the life they would have lived if they had stayed in Japan? With not researching this subject in depth yet, I anticipate finding the quality of life in Hawaii to vary based on their reason for leaving Japan.