Don Wildman

But first, let's understand what sort of nation we're talking about.

Can you describe the kingdom of Hawaii before European settlers came politically, geographically?

What were the islands and how do they compare to what we have today?

And the year of unification, 1810, you say, by that time, it was a functioning, internationally recognized sovereign nation with its own political institutions, economy, and diplomacy, correct?

So interesting.

This is a movement that's happening throughout the 19th century.

Eventually, Italy is famously united, where all these city-states come together.

So essentially, that's what you're saying.

The islands were their own city-states.

And finally, Kamehameha comes along and does that.

1778 is an important date, obviously.

Initial contact with Europeans when British explorer James Cook lands on the islands.

Thus unfolds chapters that we see elsewhere around the world of the effect of this kind of arrival.

Explain what happens.

Tremendous amounts of disease eventually, yes?

Right.

Early 1800s, small numbers of Americans and Europeans begin settling there as traders, sailors, and advisors.

You say that, and now that is an amazing backdrop to that further colonization or at least arrivals.

I mean, terrible things are happening there.

If it's to that scale and in that timeframe, amazing.