Cane Fires: The Anti-Japanese Movement in Hawaii, 1865-1945

The Anti-Japanese Movement in Hawaii stretched from the first Japanese immigrants' arrival in 1865 through World War II. This historical examination covers eight decades of racial, economic and political tensions between Japanese immigrants and Hawaii's white ruling class. The book traces organized opposition to Japanese labor and business interests, from sugar plantation strikes to territorial politics. Documentation includes newspaper accounts, government records, and personal testimonies that reveal systematic efforts to limit Japanese economic and social mobility. Japanese Americans developed strategies of resistance and adaptation in response to discrimination, building their own institutions and communities. The text examines how first and second generation Japanese navigated complex social pressures while working to establish themselves in Hawaii. The work frames the anti-Japanese movement within broader themes of American racism, imperialism, and economic exploitation in the Pacific. Through this lens, the Hawaiian experience connects to fundamental questions about power, citizenship, and ethnic relations in American society.

Readers describe this academic work as thorough but dense in its coverage of anti-Japanese discrimination in Hawaii. Several reviewers note its value as a research reference, with detailed documentation of primary sources. Likes: - In-depth examination of labor struggles and plantation life - Strong archival research and use of Japanese language sources - Clear connections between local and national anti-Japanese movements Dislikes: - Academic writing style can be dry and theoretical - Some sections get bogged down in excessive detail - Limited coverage of everyday Japanese Hawaiian experiences Ratings: Goodreads: 4.08/5 (13 ratings, 1 review) WorldCat: No ratings Amazon: No reviews One reader on Goodreads notes: "Very academic in tone but provides crucial historical context for understanding Japanese American experiences in Hawaii." Academic reviewers frequently cite the book in scholarly work but few public reviews exist online.

From a Different Shore by Ronald Takaki This historical examination chronicles Asian immigration to America through first-hand accounts, letters, and documents that reveal patterns of discrimination and resistance.

No Sword to Bury by Franklin Odo The book presents the formation and impact of Japanese American civic organizations in Hawaii before World War II through oral histories and archival research.

Strangers from a Different Shore by Ronald Takaki This comprehensive history traces the experiences of Asian Americans from their arrival in the United States through their struggles with racism, labor exploitation, and identity formation.

Uprooted Americans by Dillon S. Myer This insider account from the director of the War Relocation Authority details the Japanese American internment program's implementation and consequences during World War II.

Bridge of Scarlet Leaves by Margaret McMullan This research-based narrative documents interracial relationships between Japanese Americans and white Americans in Hawaii and California before and during World War II through marriage records and personal testimonies.

🔥 Author Gary Okihiro was born and raised in Hawaii, giving him a personal connection to the history he chronicles in this groundbreaking work. 📚 The book reveals how Hawaiian sugar plantation owners initially recruited Japanese workers as a strategy to prevent Native Hawaiian labor organizing, only to later face organized resistance from the Japanese workers themselves. 🗣️ The term "Cane Fires" in the title refers to both literal fires set in protest by workers and the metaphorical "fire" of anti-Japanese sentiment that spread through Hawaii. 🌺 Despite covering serious discrimination, the book also documents how Japanese immigrants in Hawaii generally faced less severe racism than their counterparts on the U.S. mainland, partly due to Hawaii's multicultural population. 📅 The book's timespan (1865-1945) covers the entire arc of Japanese immigration to Hawaii, from the first contract laborers through World War II, when Japanese Hawaiians faced intense scrutiny despite their long-established presence in the islands.