Sociocultural Change and Persistence During the Historic Period

Following colonization, rapid population growth, and increasingly complex social and political relations, the indigenous population of Hawaii began to stabilize. Some scholars argue that centuries of efficient use of natural resources had enabled development of a nation-state, with population estimates in the many hundreds of thousands. But as in other parts of Polynesia, contact with European explorers and American missionaries led to rapid population loss from disease, disruption of ancient lifeways, and other unprecedented challenges. Despite many adversities, Hawaiians continued traditional ways of life, and many secretly resisted outside sources of change. Tradition and traditional knowledge thereby came closer to the heart of the culture.