The Impact of Agribusiness on Hawaii

What changed in Hawaii as a result of agribusiness taking control of Hawaii?

Land ownership changed in Hawaii as a result of agribusiness taking control of Hawaii. What is agribusiness? Agribusiness is defined as the business, companies, and area of research of value chains in bio-economy and agriculture, often known as bio-business or bio-enterprise. With the exception of non-renewable resources like mining, the main objective of agribusiness is to maximize profit while sustainably meeting consumer demands for goods associated with natural resources like biotechnology, farms, food, forests, fisheries, fuel, and fiber. After agriculture, Hawaiians' lives saw a number of changes. Many of them were made into low-paid farm workers who were required to work on sugar or fruit plantations by the company's owners. The islanders were forcefully being converted to Christianity by their owners. About 2,506 miles separate the continental United States from Hawaii. Thus, land ownership changed in Hawaii as a result of agribusiness taking control of Hawaii.

Final answer:

The rise of agribusiness in Hawaii led to significant changes in the local economy, politics, and culture through the dominance of the sugar industry, disenfranchisement of indigenous Hawaiians, and erasure of traditional Hawaiian culture.

Explanation:

Agribusiness taking control of Hawaii has significantly changed the economic, political, and cultural landscapes of the islands. The agronomic industry, dominated by American businessmen, focused mainly on the sugar industry which created a deep reliance on the United States through reciprocal trade agreements. The vast sugar plantations resulted in Native Hawaiians losing control of their lands, diminishing local independence, and significantly reducing the native population. Political changes were also substantial following the overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy in 1893 and the subsequent annexation of Hawaii by the United States in 1898. This series of events not only disenfranchised many indigenous Hawaiians, but it also shifted the political power towards American settlers by giving property-owning U.S. citizens the right to vote and hold public office in Hawaii. From a cultural perspective, the shift in power also led to an attempt to erase all traces of traditional Hawaiian culture. The influence of agribusiness has had lasting effects and continues to shape the way of life in Hawaii in the present era.

What is the impact of agribusiness on Hawaii?

The impact of agribusiness on Hawaii is significant, affecting the economy, politics, and culture of the islands through the dominance of the sugar industry, disenfranchisement of indigenous Hawaiians, and erasure of traditional Hawaiian culture.

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