Each year tourists flock to Hawaii by the millions, drawn by its warm waters, gentle breezes, and air of innocent sensuality. But popular enjoyment of the islands masks a more complicated story. Hawaii’s past has seen violence, political chicanery, and economic exploitation. This program presents the full complexity of Hawaiian history – from its volcanic birth, through the rise and fall of native kings, to the shock of Pearl Harbor and the present-day challenge of preserving the natural beauty and cherished cultural traditions of this American paradise.