Kingdom and the Republic
In 1823, as the first American missionaries arrived in Hawai''i, the archipelago was experiencing a profound transformation in its rule, as oral law that had been maintained for hundreds of years was in the process of becoming codified anew through the medium of writing. The arrival of sailors in pursuit of the lucrative sandalwood trade obliged the ali''i (chiefs) of the islands to pronounce lega...
In 1823, as the first American missionaries arrived in Hawai''i, the archipelago was experiencing a profound transformation in its rule, as oral law that had been maintained for hundreds of years was in the process of becoming codified anew through the medium of writing. The arrival of sailors in pursuit of the lucrative sandalwood trade obliged the ali''i (chiefs) of the islands to pronounce lega...
