The controversial legacy of Captain James Cook

The British explorer Captain James Cook, who sailed the uncharted Pacific Ocean in the 1700s, created detailed maps of places he was the first European to visit, including New Zealand, Australia, the Cook Islands (which still bear his name), and the islands of Hawaii. But Cook's legacy - initiating a period of colonization that obscured the histories of Native Islanders - is being reexamined today. Correspondent Ben Tracy looks back on Cook's voyages and imperial ambitions with historian Hampton Sides, author of a new book, "The Wide Wide Sea." He also visits the Big Island of Hawaii, and talks with native islanders about efforts to teach the history of Pacific island cultures.
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[@eddielou]

Every historical story should be told from as many perspectives as possible. That way, everyone has a say, and those of us hearing the stories can gain a better understanding, especially from the perspective of the native peoples.

[@ShredCo]

CBS considers every single historical achievement of white Christians to be "controversial", while every Jewish achievement is simply benevolent exceptionalism. Hmm CBS Israel?

[@jasonhill2348]

Please lock it off. The native peoples were brutal

[@ShredCo]

CBS considers every single historical achievement of white Christians to be "controversial", while every Jewish achievement is simply benevolent exceptionalism. Hmm CBS Israel?

[@quisp1492]

There is a Romantic Era fantasy of places like Hawaii that persists to this day. One of the most famous places in Hawaii is the Nuʻuanu Pali Lookout point. On this place, the battle of Kalelaka'ane (leaping off of the anae'fish) took place. It refers to pushing men off a cliff during battle. It was a big win for King Kamahameha, the monarch of Hawaii. The history of any place is fraught with war and turmoil. The visitation of Europeans is no different.

[@musoangelo]

Back in the 70's I sailed on the Mariposa and the electrician was a Kanaka who use to joke, "I'm part white too, my ancestors ate capt Cook."

[@silentmajority8365]

Bragging about being a savage?

[@musoangelo]

@@silentmajority8365 No, it was a joke and if has to be explained to you, then you probably lack a proper sense of humor.

[@user-4m9-dr80h4]

@@silentmajority8365 After Captain James Cook was killed in a skirmish with Native Hawaiians in 1779, his ships opened cannon fire on "savage" villages (just like how the Luftwaffe dropped bombs on Cook's island nearly two centuries later).

[@silentmajority8365]

@@user-4m9-dr80h4 My point is you can stop crying about long dead white guys Literally whites brought them into the 21st century Hawaii was the first state to allow Gay marriage So if they don't like Hawaii they made it what it is

[@silentmajority8365]

@@musoangelo My point is you can stop crying about long dead white guys Literally whites brought them into the 21st century Hawaii was the first state to allow Gay marriage So if they don't like Hawaii they made it what it is

[@lost_penguin]

No mention of Tupaia, the Tahitian that helped Cook map out all the islands in the Pacific. The Polynesians already knew where all the islands were but Cook gets the credit because he puts it on a western map.

[@wolverineeagle]

Because Westerners are tied to the rest of the world.

[@lieberte]

Cook used a triangulation device he learned to use from a dutch engineer back when English troops were trying to map the area around Quebec while attacking France in modern day Canada. He didn't need Tupaia, he already mapped areas million times bigger - for example, eastern coast of Australia and most of the western coast of modern day US

[@user-lr4sp1il7l]

....ain't about biggah! (area) I always grab a local "nate" for those high spots,reefs,and who knows what else to effect a grounding.if Cook didn't have BIG T =major stress + the crew major stress I love to explore

[@esterhudson5104]

Which was the basic point.

[@808-PFH-Kanaka-Rights]

@@lieberte but he didn't know where the islands were, tupai'a did.

[@TarpeianRock]

People have a tendency to view the mindset of past civilizations through the lens of their comfortable existence and contemporary values and ideas. The worst people pass judgment without doing at least some of the intellectual work to try to build a framework through which to try to understand past attitudes, they are called Self Righteous.

[@RadMad789]

I think Ben came up with this story to go on vacation. More power to ya. 🌴🌊🌺

[@dod2304]

@@ChristianG-bx5jq Wow! . You did an excellent job of echoing the Europeans who came and took over the islands with ZERO regard to the native peoples' wishes. The standard story of colonizers is "Look how savage they were! Look what awful lives they had! Good thing we showed up with our superior everything!: Nobody asked them what they wanted. Nobody allowed them to come to the Europeans to say, "yes we'd like to talk to you about some of these things." The default response of white and/or European descent people is to say "look at all these wonderful things they have now!" At what price, you should ask yourself. What was the price THEY were required to pay? And, for your clarification, Native Hawaiians and Native Americans, Canadian Indigenous people often become dangerously overweight. Not because they have government subsidies, dear. But because their bodies had evolved to digest and benefit from their native foods...all kinds of seafood, poi made from taro and many cooked vegetables and edible plants. But, protein was mostly seafood. When Europeans brought flour and sugar and other fatty foods, their bodies couldn't digest it as well and use it for energy and so it was stored (and IS) as fat. It's really important not to make assumptions. Particularly as a non-native person. Of course, all societies had their issues and I don't subscribe to the "noble native" stereotype. But I do know much was forced upon them. I suspect that native peoples living now aren't saying we wish we were living the same ways we did 250 years ago. But we know they were a People able to travel great distances. They didn't need to sit and wait for Europeans to bring them all these things. You think they wouldn't 't have electricity, or internet etc without Europeans?? Those are all modern conveniences we've ALL enjoyed in the last Century and a half or so. It's hard to expect people to be thanking the "conquerers" for x,y,z when they are still suffering the decimation of their sacred spaces and respect for them and their ways. Did you even listen to this report? First visit, Capt Cook telling the sailors to keep their STD's to themselves? Yeah I bet they were really grateful for that. And other diseases. I'm just asking people to think before you say something. It would be like your neighbors coming over and saying "we really don't think you're caring for your grand mother properly and homeschooling is BS. We're going to put granny in a nursing home and put your kids in a school where we don't allow them to speak their own language or wear clothes they're comfortable in. Oh and your house! Needs to be completely rebuilt, it's a mess! Also, I didn't want to bring it up, but this food is awful! I can't eat this! We're going to bring over our food and you'll start eating THAT from now on." Does that help at all with the tiniest bit of empathy? Or respect?

[@wolverineeagle]

@@dod2304 Throughout the ages people have explored and taken lands without the permission of resident humans. Exploration and land appropriation is an integral part of the human experience.

[@henrylivingstone2971]

@@ChristianG-bx5jq “Resorting to cooking dogs and pigs they raised for meat” what is that supposed to mean? Do you know what resorting to means? The term “resorting to” means to adopt a course of action that is disagreeable or savory. If they raised dogs and pigs for meat why is that “resorting to”? They were raised for the express purpose of eating them. Also dogs for the most part have been a food source for many cultures and peoples and while served as a companion also served as food for many peoples including Europeans and not as a last resort. Also tribal cannibalism was not the result of starvation often times cannibalism served a ritualistic purpose either for the purposes of granting powers, defeating enemies, or familial remembrance. When it comes to the claim that the natives were “constantly in brutal warfare with each other” yeah and? So was the entirety of Europe. Both world wars were caused by Europe. All the crusades were initiated by Europe. Europe has been a powder keg of war and conflict don’t act as if the natives were the only locale under conflict.

[@pikiwiki]

right

[@mililaniman]

I enjoy learning about Captain Cook's contributions to history and geography. I have visited the Big Island several times. and I think it is beautiful.

[@patrickgallagher9069]

If he hadn't introduced Hawaiians to the west, someone else would have.

[@808-PFH-Kanaka-Rights]

ok????? and that's a problem why?

[@marsspacex6065]

They should be happy someone so good like cook and not others who would have wiped them out.

[@808-PFH-Kanaka-Rights]

@@marsspacex6065 that's a sick statement

[@marsspacex6065]

@@808-PFH-Kanaka-Rights Just history look at what the Spanish arabs did to native people.

[@808-PFH-Kanaka-Rights]

@@marsspacex6065 ya think I care? that's still a sick statement

[@marksieber4626]

One of Cook’s young officers was a fellow named William Bligh. Bligh was later captain of a ship called the Bounty which also noteworthy in its exploration of the South Pacific. Read about the treatment of English sailors by their captains and officers.

[@ShredCo]

CBS considers every single historical achievement of white Christians to be "controversial", while every Jewish achievement is simply benevolent exceptionalism. Hmm CBS Israel?

[@ShredCo]

CBS considers every single historical achievement of white Christians to be "controversial", while every Jewish achievement is simply benevolent exceptionalism. Hmm CBS Israel?

[@robertwoodroffe123]

Cook was apparently a good Commander for his time , his sailors didn’t get scurvy! Like most other’s on such long journeys.

[@eddiel7635]

Read about what it took to keep discipline on board an 18c ship and what were considered acceptable norms of society at large.

[@gattingbowledwarne]

Bligh was a great navigator. After the mutiny he sailed in a small boat with the loyal sailors thousands of kilometers. He then went on to govern the colony of Sydney where he suffered another rebellion.

[@djdollase]

My family was just there on the Big Island and, amongst other things, went both to the Capt. Cook monument (on a snorkeling boat trip) and the native Place of Refuge. Both are beautiful and should be seen, especially the Place of Refuge. One can feel the spiritual power of the place.

[@marytheresejacksonlutz2533]

My husband and I were there last September. We visited The Place of Refuge. It was serene and peaceful. Our tour guide talked about Cook and his demise.

[@345mrse]

Cook was frustrated by lack of progress (and possibly stomach issues) on his last sojourn. On Cook’s last departure from Hawai’i (after the Lono festival) one of the ships needed immediate repair so the group returned to Hawai’i and this action was objectionable to the inhabitants of the island. Tensions arose and threats were made from both sides. Burial ground wood was used by the sailors for fire then a longboat was taken by the islanders in retaliation. Cook began to take the king hostage, two chiefs and a wife objected, a fight ensued on the beach and Cook was killed. Cook didn’t arbitrarily overstay his welcome from some mercurial mood swing as the writer and this goofy announcer intentionally mis-report. He returned for an emergency refit. The other actions of the crew and captain (firewood, hostage taking)weren’t so adept which led to his death.

[@jonathanmietzner8003]

The story in the video definitely doesn’t match the story told on tours or readily available in books or online.

[@345mrse]

@@jonathanmietzner8003 Good point. I’m not certain if I fully comprehend your comment. Perhaps this video is more accurate to history and offers new revelations or what is readily available in books and tours is facile? I apologize for belaboring your effecient comment, I am just not certain how to read it.

[@donm1612]

Referring to "their culture" is weird given that they so thoroughly embraced western culture. No one is stopping you: Rip out the electricity, close the hospitals, schools and courts, drive the cars into the ocean, then and only then can you talk about your culture. Individuals choose what they want. Don't tell a Hawaiian or anyone else what culture they must choose because of their ancestry. In the end it is Individualism that Cook brought along. If that is disease to you then actually follow your convictions and follow aforementioned steps.

[@zoso73]

👏 👏 👏 at the end of the day, it's a bunch of Leftist/Marxists that like to engage in revisionism.

[@TranzVangal]

You can't erase #history just because you don't agree with something, I think that is foolish to do, we can try to learn to do better.

[@user-4m9-dr80h4]

It's been happening in North Carolina, London and elsewhere.

[@e.gadd.1]

Identity politics is huge today, its all race, race, race. When I was a kid in the 70s, he simply was an explorer who discovered new lands for Europe. Even the British part was largely a side note. There wasn't so much emphasis on which group (today) is owed by which group (today), through genetic consignment. I like the old days better

[@RudieObias]

I guess you prefer other perspectives to just go away and not bother your existence 🙄

[@e.gadd.1]

@@RudieObias back then we had other perspectives aplenty. Today instead a lot of it seems to be just tribalism and passive aggressive hate, and removal of what you don't want to see. Though the sentence "I guess you prefer other perspectives to go away and not bother your existence" would best be applied to the KZbin censors, who hide anybodys speech they don't feel like being visible on a daily basis right.

[@parkerhughes434]

​@e.gadd.1 But you didn't have perspectives aplenty, at least nowhere near comparable to today, otherwise you'd know James Cook wasn't 'simply an explorer who discovered lands for Europe.' Sure he made many great discoveries for Europe, but he was also a quack who held a king for ransom because a rowboat was stolen. It's not identity politics if a different perspective that challenges the one you learned 50 years ago is based on historical events that actually happened.

[@e.gadd.1]

​@@parkerhughes434 true there is more information online today for those who look. But free speech is much more limited today :( Most public discourse is now online and what you see and say is controlled utterly by a few giant social media monopolies, with zero accountability and we have no idea who is even doing it. And most every home is bugged by at least 3 or more electronic devices. Its 1984 but 2024, basically

[@margo3367]

Makes me want to go back. The Hawaiian islands are so beautiful. ❤

[@piratejoan]

Thank you for this.

[@SueFerreira75]

Cook was the most amazing sailor and navigator. He is only controversial if you are ignorant of history.

[@roytaylor6361]

Thank you

[@danielvanhuizen1253]

your comment gives us a ignorant version of the history, history is never one dimensional and Cook definitely had his flaws and imperialist mindset

[@roytaylor6361]

@@danielvanhuizen1253 Please capitalize your sentences, some grammar would strengthen your arguments. Who is “us” you speak of please? Are you the nominated representative of a group? Captain James Hook was an explorer who was extremely brave and helped us to better understand our world. His views were, for his time, liberal, and he should be celebrated.

[@gregarmstrong6077]

He was an amazing sailor and navigator but there is controversy about him. Hence, he is also controversial. They're not mutually exclusive.

[@impulse_xs]

Ironically enough, oversimplifying someone’s historical legacy like you’re trying to do is about as ignorant as you can get.

[@MegaGo68]

I've always wondered why Cook isn't even more of a world-historic figure. His achievements in cartography and navigation were astounding, and made so much of the world known and intelligible.

[@michaelschramm1064]

Well at least one prominent writer of history, recognized for his earlier book “The Ghost Soldiers” felt his story should be heard. It’s by Hampton Sides and was just published-“The Wide, Wide Sea”.

[@bensayles1541]

It’s the culture of Hawaii and the people of Hawaii that is the real beauty. I encourage everyone to explore more about the history (told by the people of Hawaii) and the culture that is there today.

[@oceansunsetak]

I consider him a great explorer. Any indiscretions he might have made He paid for with his own life. Here in Alaska. British petroleum erected Captain Cook statue. overlooking cook inlet.

[@justdesserts1837]

Celebrating our culture’s greatness is antithetical to their agenda.

[@DMEseter]

What an oil company celebrates him? Those wonderful humanitarians

[@oceansunsetak]

Unlike today's people who travel on oil powered cruise ships and airplanes. Cook utilized renewables, wind power. James Cook, explorer. Environmentalist

[@jaymo8206]

I lived on the Big Island from the mid 80's to 2005. Been fortunate to have spent time at both the locations featured in this video. Aloha Nui Loa. The local coastline waters were awesome for snorkeling, diving, swimming & surfing.

[@antmagor]

Ironically the name is identical to the villain from Peter Pan. Captain James Hook. I highly doubt that cook was the inspiration for Hook, I don’t think J. M. Barry was quite that forward thinking. But there is a subtle irony to it.

[@JillWhitcomb1966]

For those of us who have traveled to Yorkshire, found in the northeastern part of England, Captain James Cook is thought of as a hero there. There is James Cook hospital in the city of Middlesbrough. There is a Captain James Cook statue in the seaside city of Whitby, along with another statue of him found further south in London. There is a Captain Cook museum in the city of Whitby, and his birthplace and home has been made into a museum, as well, in Marton, Yorkshire. Keep in mind that I'm American. However, during my travels to the Yorkshire area of England about five ago, all of the locals pointed out the history of Captain Cook. Nope, none of them mentioned anything negative about him, aside from the fact he sailed away and left England.

[@lukebrodin631]

Because can’t compare historical figures to today standards, every American founding fathers would be cancelled today.

[@doopdu1237]

Ofc they didn't, their ancestors were the colonizers

[@ljacobs357]

All of the great navigators are controversial. It's called history.

[@adolfojuarez3654]

I dont think those places called cook are owned by hawaiins

[@mikemiller9024]

Captain Cook was a great explorer, just like we have people now that want to go to other planets and other places in the world. We should learn the best we can from history and not change the bad to make the future better. If we failed to learn from history, it’s true we repeat it. Diseases and other bad things and invasive species still travel the world today at a much quicker pace eradicating history is a bad thing.

[@feleciawright9316]

Historical figures should be remembered but not revered. They are not gods who need holidays, but people who accomplished noteworthy things.

[@user-4m9-dr80h4]

Then what are we to do with Christmas, Easter, Eid al-Fitr, Eid al-Adha?

[@cloverman9815]

@@user-4m9-dr80h4 Revere them because, unlike what our initial commenter said about historical figures, those do honor God.

[@grahamfloyd3451]

@@user-4m9-dr80h4 bro I'm an atheist, and wtf are you failing to say here?

[@tcusdin]

Fact check: Abel Tasman and his crew were the first European's to discover or find New Zealand first before Cook. Cook and his crew fully map out New Zealand and came ashore unlike Tasman.

[@JohnDoe-ch7ww]

the journalist literally said, "the first to map out the pacific" not the first to discover.

[@tcusdin]

@@JohnDoe-ch7ww Quote: "Pacific Ocean on the map creating detailed diagrams of the places he was the first European to discover including New Zealand, Australia the Cook Islands...". The journalist literally said "discover including New Zealand'

[@user-4m9-dr80h4]

@@tcusdin Why didn't Tasman come ashore on NZ?

[@danielmartin7838]

Too few today could ever hope to be as accomplished as Cook. What an incredible explorer.

[@frankdenardo8684]

I remember a restaurant called Captain Cook's Restaurant and the H.M.S. Endeavour. The second was named after his ship. He discovered Alaska, West Coast of Canada 🇨🇦 and the United States 🇺🇸, the Hawaiian Islands, Australia, New Zealand and other Pacific Islands.

[@tommytorrence7553]

Just read it! EXCELLENT!!!

[@marsspacex6065]

Captain Cook is not controversial at all he is one of the greatest explorers and mappers in history.

[@keouine]

AS for statue removal, I loathe dangerous demagogues from both left and right urging destruction rather than building. Who thinks Polynesia and the unconquered indigenous peoples would have remained so for long? It's not James Cook's fault that colonialsim was inevitable by some European power if not the British. The proof is all over the globe. And whose warnings keep China from taken them over today? It's not Tahiti's or Maori navy that will keep other islands independent against aggression. It's sad it has to be this way at least now. Maybe one day.

[@leemayhan4199]

I live in Alaska on Cook Inlet where Captain Cook did another major expedition following an inlet from that Pacific Ocean that lay between two bodies of land. Captain Cook sailed as far as this ocean inlet allowed only hitting a dead end that is now the city of Anchorage AK. Thus the end of this inlet became known as Turnagain Arm, obvious meaning that this is the end of this inlet from the ocean and you need to turn around. Captain Cook is very much of our history of our state too even today.Captain Cook left behind extensive well documented journals of all his travels thus allowing future generations to know what the era he lived in was like and what he discovered. Love him or hate him Captain Cook was the first of only many to come after him.

[@gw7120]

If he didnt do it somebody else would , you cant ignore history , its not about your feelings , its just factual .

[@rosslange1757]

He was the first European to discover Australia and New Zealand.....really? Another well researched article.😒

[@1965Grit]

Why do people have the beliefs that if people like Cook wouldn't have found these places they would have never been discovered.

[@Maxwell1989]

Captain Cook is a town on the big island as well

[@shakerHeightsChannel]

So tell your native story. Why do you have to topple someone else's history while you are at it?

[@808-PFH-Kanaka-Rights]

but it's us hawaiians who killed him so let us tell you why

[@roytaylor6361]

I used to get cross about people trying to rewrite history because of political correctness but have now realised that facts are facts. Captain Cook was a British hero and whilst 'hero' is negotiable his feats are not. Yes he went, he went at great personal risk, he mapped what he did, he shared what he did and he did it. He was also part of a special breed of British people who did so and whilst 'special breed' is negototiable, the fact he was British is not. The fact that British explorers and colonizsers were not American, or Chinese, or French, etc is a fact too. So let this generation of students protest, history will not remember them, but they will him.

[@JamesDio-yu5yd]

But he was second to what he found.

[@Peacefull333]

Love to the all the beautiful Hawaiian and Pasika peoples.

[@TerlinguaTalkeetna]

Been my experience that when most tourist travel, they know or care very little for history of place. Really doesn't matter if it's a national park, another state, another town in your state, or in another country. Industrial tourism tends to step on and roll over the locals in exchange for some money. If they like the place, sadly they buy into it, only to change the place into something familiar to where they left before coming?

[@Kevon420]

This guy inventing cooking, people should be more thankful.

[@muddeer5383]

the explorers like columbus and cook get too much credit for their discoveries and too much blame for the negative effects on the natives. if they didn’t do it, someone else would have discovered the lands in 10 to 20 years later. the consequences would be not much different

[@marytheresejacksonlutz2533]

Totally agree

[@dod2304]

Kind of a silly argument. It's like an abuser saying, "well, if I didn't do it now, someone else would've done it soon enough."

[@bmingo2828]

@@dod2304World history isn’t pretty. People have conquered other people since the beginning of time. You’re privileged to live in a world where you don’t have to worry about being conquered and can watch the conquering on TV from your living room and say, “oh how horrible!”

[@user-4m9-dr80h4]

It would have been better had Leif Ericsson had succeeded . . . his takeover would have been more gradual and less traumatic.

[@bmingo2828]

⁠@@user-4m9-dr80h4😂 Finding new land was like striking gold. As soon as someone found it, everyone and their brother was on their way to stake a claim. Gradual and civilized was never an option!

[@joe-vl3nd]

A great Man 👍🇬🇧

[@UncleSam-USofA]

Did Oprah ok this?

[@michaelschramm1064]

She wrote the segment most likely.

[@UncleSam-USofA]

@@michaelschramm1064 With Gail?

[@michaelschramm1064]

@@UncleSam-USofA Probably

[@tiboregoldberger6817]

CO is the best way to get a bridge 0:30

[@quiet451]

Wouldn't a better piece have included some history about the native Hawaiians?

[@munyaradzimunodawafa7745]

the map is wrong its upside down

[@daneblack2593]

Why did they steal his boat

[@808-PFH-Kanaka-Rights]

hawaiians didn't

[@TOm-hr2mb]

Because he stole their land.

[@dhoward5757]

I love the Islands, yet feel sadly intrusive when vacationing. Can't help but imagine the beautifully pristine lifestyle they offered the natives before missionaries and colonialism took hold.

[@reddeserted13]

Courageous sailor and crew. He had a documented illness late in life. The voyage may be reinterpreted, but it won't be forgotten.

[@timburr4453]

A legendary man

[@chuck5898]

Every western explorer who colonized the places they “discovered”, the people have benefited immensely and thrived.

[@nathantallar8967]

Cook was not the first European to see Australia

[@bjkjoseph]

He was the inspiration for Captain James T Kirk

[@michaelschramm1064]

And Captain Hook of “Peter Pan”.

[@lukebrandy2258]

Always remember, never forget to respect the local people. If you disrespect the Hawaiian people, you will have big trouble, but if you respect them, you’ll get much love and aloha. The Hawaiian people are the most beautiful people in the world. I know this for a fact because I am a white person and I have lived in Hawaii for 45 years….

[@alexroberto6353]

My buddy Connor Cook is a descendant of Captain Cook. He lives in Hawaii. He looks just like Captain Cook. Kinda like Kurt Russell.

[@esterhudson5104]

Cook was the first Attenborough. We owe him everything.

[@d.s.2519]

NEWS FLASH - Everyone has been colonized. Stop whining.

[@lisacraig4585]

First European to discover Australia…you kidding. Only after the Dutch, Spanish and most probably the Portuguese knew about the continent 150 years before.

[@XenoBeano]

exactly

[@michaelschramm1064]

Neither Portugal, Holland nor Spain laid any claim to discovering Australia.

[@marsspacex6065]

The media never mentions the way in which these native people lived trust me if you went back in time you would ask Captain Cook to save you from them. Shouldn't the native Hawaiians apologize for killing him for no reason.?

[@morrisparrish76]

I wonder how many more people were killed on st Valentine’s Day?

[@angelinamclaughlin-heil]

Please stop saying he “discovered” or found the islands. That is just ignorant.

[@monida55]

As was said in the video, he "discovered" the islands as a European who had no knowledge they existed at all.

[@ShredCo]

Discovered by civilizations with a history. The natives of the islands had no history.

[@marsspacex6065]

In world terms he did discover them as they were isolated.

[@ShredCo]

CBS considers every single historical achievement of white Christians to be "controversial", while every Jewish achievement is simply benevolent exceptionalism. Hmm CBS Israel?

[@markwgundert4251]

I'm fascinated by the Polynesian people and their history. It is a shame that island history usually begins with first European contact.

[@tuckerbugeater]

The true history of native human sacrifice.

[@Hilavaflow]

Kamehameha used guns and weapons acquired through trade with the "Haoles" to subjugate Maui and Oahu in bloody wars. Maui warriors were pushed to their deaths at Io Needle by Kamehameha's warriors. It was a brutal conquest. I ask why Kamehameha's statues are not covered in tarps.

[@serdownofhousebad1127]

Because he's Hawaiian and was a native to the islands. There's a big difference between local conquerors and foreign ones. Like how Mongolia has a holiday and statues for Genghis Khan, or how France celebrates Napoleon. Humans can find pride in warlords, but it's far easier when they're of the same ilk, so to speak

[@808-PFH-Kanaka-Rights]

because unlike what you think, he ended hundreds of years of wars. oh you didn't know we had hundreds of years of wars? well, big island was strongest genealogically while the maui kingdoms were the most rutheless even giving fear to those of kaua'i and big island. o'ahu had the most political power while due to the days of manokalanipo, kaua'i and ni'ihau made a forever alliance that lasted for nearly 400 years until kaumuali'i became a vassal of kamehameha.

[@808-PFH-Kanaka-Rights]

@@serdownofhousebad1127 for kamehameha, what is celebrated about him is the fact that he ended years of wars and actually united the kingdoms. something that has been tried and failed for hundreds of years.

[@Deadfoot-Dan]

@@808-PFH-Kanaka-Rights Great explanation, thanks

[@808-PFH-Kanaka-Rights]

@@Deadfoot-Dan no problem

[@centristpatriot7945]

History is written by the victors. Complaining about it is left to the losers. This is the sad reality of human nature.

[@timpeck9468]

Explorers often get credit for "discovering" what has already been occupied by others for long periods of time. He may have been amazing at traveling and visiting places, but the native people were negatively impacted by the ones who "discovered" them.

[@A3Kr0n]

It's complicated.

[@alexthompson9516]

People don't seem to understand that someone can be capable of great things as well as bad things.

[@ronlacker326]

Its complicated for people who actually think too much over it. It's simple anti-white racist propaganda. Marxist propaganda.

[@lieberte]

It's not, Cook was a great man. Some of his contemporaries weren't

[@user-4m9-dr80h4]

@@alexthompson9516 That's actually the conventional narrative. The reverse is more recent.

[@Thegrimforest]

Absolutley hilarous how you could consider Captian Cook an imperialist colonizer but not Kamehameha the First who literally colonized and subjugated all of the other Islands in the unification wars

[@lattakia3812]

My hero

[@michaelschramm1064]

This is why I don’t watch any Leftist main stream news outlets. I’m reading Hampton Sides’ “The Wide, Wide Sea” and reveling in the depiction of an intrepid and resourceful explorer who did his part in ushering in the Age of Enlightenment.

[@user-xd7zk1pw5y]

Yes cultures will remain forever???

[@fernb247]

Sound like the Aztec story

[@evaristus4821]

Cook was not the first European to "discover" Australia. What a lazy piece of Journalism. Abel Tasman visited Australia 100 years before Cook, and so did several French and Portuguese Navigators.

[@haveIgotastoryforyou]

And Tonga also

[@SkinnyCow.]

A great man. A great white man in fact who brought civilization to many.

[@rayrocher6887]

James Cook solved , Hawaii isolation lonely, liked when starved less trouble,

[@Migwelp]

Would they have plumbing with or without Cook? That is the real question.

[@1fan164]

King Kam couldn’t have conquered Oahu without Brit advanced 18th century technology.

[@808-PFH-Kanaka-Rights]

that is true. I wonder what would have happened if metcalfe didn't attack the village of olowalu considering that it is because of that incident that he acquired Davis and young

[@ikaikamaleko8370]

Hawaii no ka oi.

[@judithdomangue9995]

Hawaiians are a beautiful people. ❤

[@marytheresejacksonlutz2533]

They truly are! So kind and gracious

[@billhathaway2814]

@@marytheresejacksonlutz2533 And Cook took advantage of that and NOT in a good way....That monument should come down..

[@tomtom8786]

@@marytheresejacksonlutz2533Hawaiians aren't so kind to white people

[@tuckerbugeater]

@@marytheresejacksonlutz2533 lol no

[@tuckerbugeater]

@@billhathaway2814 simp

[@marvinmartin4692]

This story is as old as the human race. Egyptian, Summarian , Greek, and numerous others. The conqueror and the conquered.

[@BallardBaller]

The can complain all they want, but most of their history is word and tales that have changed over time, and noy written with a pen to paper like Cook did

[@redline296]

Should’ve protected those borders

[@n.d.7931]

Why do explorers and pioneers always get flack.

[@user-4m9-dr80h4]

Ask Queen Boadicea.

[@James-kj4cy]

He’s a hero to the western world.

[@TheCdecisneros]

Better off than if the Spanish had discovered the Hawaiian Islands.

[@pikiwiki]

The Enlightenment played a large part in how Cook treated the people he found on his travels

[@user-4m9-dr80h4]

Yeah, look at that happened to Rapa Nui (Easter Island).

[@slatermcdavid7786]

As much as i hate american history and our false heros, as disgusting as the story of how Hawaii was stolen, id be interested to see how the current "natives" in Hawaii would adapt to having all modern american influences removed from their society and returning back to their "natural" way of living.

[@marksieber4626]

Research a bit of Thor Heyerdahl and the voyage of Kon Tiki. If you’re inclined to do some learning about the seafaring abilities of the Polynesians.

[@high-_]

Need more Hawaiian statues up Why not?

[@rudymattox9865]

Led to colonization and altered and eridcated, a whole culture ,wow such a hero

[@emeraldkimble7602]

First circumnavigation Magellan killed by tilapia lapu lapu

[@MissElle66]

Paige’s pouch game is so strong

[@williamkuhns2387]

The christian missionaries did the most long term damage to Hawaiian culture. The sons of the missionaries became the pineapple and sugar barons directly responsible for the overthrow of the Royal Hawaiian Monarchy. They used their money to influence the american government to send the u.s.marines to house arrest the Queen. The robber barons were afraid that their business interests would be threatened by The Kingdom of Hawaii being independent and kicking big business out. Incidentally the cook monument marking the spot he was killed was originally in the water and after 200+ years sea levels rising has covered the original spot that had been dry land.

[@roberthevern6169]

Ahh, the UK ....again!!

[@rover109]

Secede already🙄

[@beyondhuman3148]

And yet without people like him humanity wouldn't have progressed as far as we have.

[@girardedward]

That’s the Western mentality!!