When: through January 2, 2017
Today's the day, people! Head to NMAI and travel to Hawaii. Keep in mind, this is not a travelogue of sandy beaches and swaying palm trees, but a serious look at the history of Hawaii, which is far less beautiful then its scenery.
The United States conquered Hawaii and annexed it, actions for which President Clinton apologized in the 1990s - good for him, I say. The island's history is a cautionary tale of what happens to native people when big business runs a country. Spoiler alert: it's not good. The only laudatory thing that those who came to conquer did in Hawaii was to teach everyone to read. Their literacy rate was, at one time at least, as close to 100% as you can get.
The question one is left with at the end of the exhibit is: where does Hawaii go from here?
Verdict: Quite interesting overview of a part of American history of which I was heretofore ignorant.
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