Kānaka Maoli Perspectives Reclaim History at Hawaii’s Kealakekua Bay

KEALAKEKUA BAY, HAWAII — For centuries, the story of Captain James Cook’s final moments in Hawaii has been told primarily through a colonial lens. However, Kānaka Maoli (Native Hawaiian) scholars are now bringing indigenous perspectives to the forefront, reframing the explorer’s legacy for a modern audience. Speaking to ABC iview’s 'Stuff the British Stole' on 15 June 2026, Emalani Case, a Kānaka Maoli lecturer in Pacific Studies, visited the site at Kealakekua Bay where an 'X' is carved into the rock face to mark where Cook was killed on 14 February 1779. Dr. Case is working to dispel the misconception that the indigenous people involved were 'savages,' noting instead that Cook and his crew are viewed by many Hawaiians as thieves who took from the local community. Dr. Case explained that it is essential to revisit these historical narratives to include perspectives not 'tied to power.' While traditional British history celebrates Cook as an innocent explorer and a brilliant cartographer from humble beginnings, Native Hawaiian understanding identifies him more accurately as a coloniser. This reclamation of history aims to provide a more balanced account of the events leading to the 1779 encounter. Historian Clair Stones, of the Captain Cook Memorial Museum, noted that Cook’s voyages were originally framed as scientific missions of 'enlightenment' to observe world customs and create accurate maps. However, for Indigenous peoples like the Kānaka Maoli, those same maps and expeditions represented the start of significant cultural loss. By sharing these lived indigenous truths, scholars like Dr. Case are ensuring that the history of the Pacific is grounded in the experiences and voices of its original inhabitants.