Noenoe Silva rectifies the one-sided nature of much of the research on American Colonialism in Hawaii, diving into (and quoting at length) Hawaiian newspaper accounts and other native sources to significantly expand the historical record. The successful interactions with Britain and the subsequent rapid modernization effort were enlightening, as were the social and economic developments leading up to the American-backed coup that paved the way for annexation. The flip-flopping of the US congress on the issue and its willful engagement in unrepentant colonial activity at the dawn of the 20th century is laid out in devastating detail, leaving much to think about for those of us who are beneficiaries of that injustice. Highly recommend