What if Hawai became British Hawaii

[mspence]

WI Hawaii became a British colony?

[simon darkshade]

The Americans would be rather frustrated, as the Sandwich Islands are a key in controlling the Pacific in that particular day and age.

Most likely they will be kept as a Crown Colony through to some form of independence, probably a bit earlier than the late 70s/80s timeframe of the rest of the British Pacific.

There will undoubtedly be American bases there built under the (slightly different) Destroyers for Bases deal in this case; in the interim, though, it would have an impact on the range and size of American capital ships in the 1910s and 1920s.

[lordroel]

Jul 18, 2024 5:50:01 GMT mspence said:

WI Hawaii became a British colony?

You post is a question, in the future post also your own opinion to the question so other members can read what you yourself think about it.

[stevep]

Jul 18, 2024 6:10:54 GMT simon darkshade said:

The Americans would be rather frustrated, as the Sandwich Islands are a key in controlling the Pacific in that particular day and age.

Most likely they will be kept as a Crown Colony through to some form of independence, probably a bit earlier than the late 70s/80s timeframe of the rest of the British Pacific.

There will undoubtedly be American bases there built under the (slightly different) Destroyers for Bases deal in this case; in the interim, though, it would have an impact on the range and size of American capital ships in the 1910s and 1920s.

  I would agree and you raise a good point about the effects on USN designs as they will want the ability to reach across the Pacific, especially given their interest in trade with China and if they colonize the Philippines as OTL.  Likely they will seek other bases, although a lot depends on when Britain establishes a protectorate and what other options are available.

  Assuming its before the US planters gain full political control and import a lot of foreign workers, OTL largely from Japan then the demographics of the islands would be different with the bulk of the population still being overwhelmingly native Hawaiian.  It probably wouldn't be the pineapple capital of the world for a while and overall might be distinctly poorer economically.  Also as British influence in the region declines the US might become more important economically and taking over Pearl Harbour from the RN, but as a facility loaned by Hawaii rather than their own property.

  If its later the population would be more mixed and say a British supported restoration of local power with the planters supplanted, say during the US civil war or later it would cause tension between the UK and US. 

  One item, assuming no major butterflies in the western world is there's going to be another S Pacific rugby nation along the lines of Fiji, Samoa and Tonga and probably stronger as it would have a larger population base. 

  I suspect it would be a long shot but could there be some sort of Polynesian confederation between those and other British pacific island groups to boost their relative economic and political strength?  A lot might depend on the actual situation in the Pacific but barring some major changes Britain is likely by this sort of date to have largely withdrawn from the Pacific  militarily so security would be an issue.  The US presuming no massive changes would be a likely protector but also a social and economic threat to their interests and depending on what other powers are about and their relationships.