katchen
Banned
From Wikipedia: History of Fiji. Here is a timeline from 1850-1874. Notice that there was a window of opportunity in which Hawaii, rather than the UK could have acquired Fiji.
1853 Warlord Ratu Seru Epenisa Cakobau installed as Vunivalu (Paramount Chief) of Bau, and claims the title of Tui Viti (King of Fiji). 1854 Cakobau converts to Christianity, influenced by the unifying features of Christianity, its obvious connections with the western world and the presence in Fiji of a Tongan army led by Taufa'ahau and Ma'afu. 1855 Cakobau crushes Rewa revolt.
The leader of the revolt, Mara, is executed four years later. John Brown Williams's home is destroyed by arson. Visit from warship USS John Adams, demanding almost $44,000 compensation; seizes some islands as mortgage.
1858 Arrival of the first British Consul William Thomas Pritchard.
Hostile visit from USS Vandalia.
Cakobau offers to cede the islands to the United Kingdom for US$40,000. 1862 The United Kingdom refuses to annex Fiji, claiming to have ascertained from Cakobau's fellow-chiefs that he was not universally accepted as King of Fiji and that he did not have the authority to cede the islands. 1865 Confederacy of Fijian chiefs formed. 1867 Threats to shell Levuka from an American warship.
Amid increasing unrest, Cakobau crowned King of Bau by European settlers. 1868 The Australian-based Polynesia Company acquires land near Suva, in return for promising to pay Cakobau's debts. 1871 Establishment of the Kingdom of Fiji as a constitutional monarchy, with Cakobau as King but with real power in the hands of a Cabinet and Legislature dominated by settlers from Australia. 1872 Lavish overspending saddles the new kingdom with debt. John Bates Thurston, a government official, approaches the United Kingdom on Cakobau's behalf with an offer to cede the islands. 1874 10 October - Fiji becomes a British colony.As reluctant as Great Britain was to acquire Fiji, the British likely would have raised little objection to Hawaii straightening out Fiji's affairs with American assistance. The British were not aggressively looking for more Pacific Ocean colonies in the mid 19th Century. And had Fiji been part of Hawaii when the US acquired Hawaii, Fiji would either have been part of Hawaii territory, or more than likely, become a separate territory, replacing Samoa as the US Navy's South Pacific base and coaling station--unless Hawaii also had managed to acquire Samoa and possibly the New Hebrides and Solomon Islands.
1853 Warlord Ratu Seru Epenisa Cakobau installed as Vunivalu (Paramount Chief) of Bau, and claims the title of Tui Viti (King of Fiji). 1854 Cakobau converts to Christianity, influenced by the unifying features of Christianity, its obvious connections with the western world and the presence in Fiji of a Tongan army led by Taufa'ahau and Ma'afu. 1855 Cakobau crushes Rewa revolt.
The leader of the revolt, Mara, is executed four years later. John Brown Williams's home is destroyed by arson. Visit from warship USS John Adams, demanding almost $44,000 compensation; seizes some islands as mortgage.
1858 Arrival of the first British Consul William Thomas Pritchard.
Hostile visit from USS Vandalia.
Cakobau offers to cede the islands to the United Kingdom for US$40,000. 1862 The United Kingdom refuses to annex Fiji, claiming to have ascertained from Cakobau's fellow-chiefs that he was not universally accepted as King of Fiji and that he did not have the authority to cede the islands. 1865 Confederacy of Fijian chiefs formed. 1867 Threats to shell Levuka from an American warship.
Amid increasing unrest, Cakobau crowned King of Bau by European settlers. 1868 The Australian-based Polynesia Company acquires land near Suva, in return for promising to pay Cakobau's debts. 1871 Establishment of the Kingdom of Fiji as a constitutional monarchy, with Cakobau as King but with real power in the hands of a Cabinet and Legislature dominated by settlers from Australia. 1872 Lavish overspending saddles the new kingdom with debt. John Bates Thurston, a government official, approaches the United Kingdom on Cakobau's behalf with an offer to cede the islands. 1874 10 October - Fiji becomes a British colony.As reluctant as Great Britain was to acquire Fiji, the British likely would have raised little objection to Hawaii straightening out Fiji's affairs with American assistance. The British were not aggressively looking for more Pacific Ocean colonies in the mid 19th Century. And had Fiji been part of Hawaii when the US acquired Hawaii, Fiji would either have been part of Hawaii territory, or more than likely, become a separate territory, replacing Samoa as the US Navy's South Pacific base and coaling station--unless Hawaii also had managed to acquire Samoa and possibly the New Hebrides and Solomon Islands.