Hawaii was an independent kingdom, originally feudal in it's government, but consolidated by a powerful cheif, King Kamehameha I, in 1810.
In the Age of Discovery, contact with the US and Europe brought many changes to the beautiful island nation.
The Hawaiian monarchy was a correspondent and trading partner of the powerful nations with a developing economy, literate population and a largely christian outlook by 1893.
In that year, the constitutional monarchy was overthrown by a handful of white land owners, with the collusion of the US minister, who ordered a landing of 160 Marines in support of the coup.
After a five-year interlude as a republic, the Territory of Hawaii was annexed by a joint resolution of Congress.
In 1959, a contested plebiscite was held and Hawaii was admitted as the 50th state.
Presently, there is a movement for sovereignty, to return the islands to independent nation status.
What are the issues relating to Hawaii's place in society? The history is complex and nuanced, with polynesian people living in Hawaii since about CE 700 by some reckonings. The US wishes to be perceived internationally as a bulwark of freedom, not a hegemon.
Is Hawaiian sovereignty a possibility?
Here is an encyclopedia article on Hawaii:
http://encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com/Hawaii
Here is an organization calling for a return to national sovereignty:
http://hawaii-nation.org/index.html