The end of the cold war and the collapse of the Soviet Union have spurred historian T. Michael Holmes to look back to the years 1947-1953, when the territory of Hawaii was gripped by the specter of communism. Holmes begins by remembering the U.S. response to communism from the time of the Russian Revolution through the careers of America's most famous anticommunists, Richard M. Nixon and Joseph R. McCarthy; he also provides a brief account of the events that led to Hawaii's "red scare." The focus then shifts to a single critical year, bounded by Governor Ingram M. Stainback's 1947 declaration of war against communism in Hawaii and the 1948 dismissal of school teachers John and Aiko Reinecke. During this year the two primary targets of the anticommunists were revealed: the ILWU and the Democratic party. Finally Holmes looks at the 1949 longshore strike, the Hawaii hearings of the House Committee on Un-American Activities, and the last major thrust of militant anticommunism in Hawaii, the Smith Act trial of the Hawaii Seven. Based on an extensive record of public testimony, numerous personal interviews and letters, and a thorough examination of the newspapers of the day, The Specter of Communism in Hawaii is the most comprehensive work in print on Hawaii's anticommunist impulse.

The Specter of Communism in Hawaii

History

Holmes, T. Michael

Americas

University of Hawaii Press

John A. Burns: The Man and His Times

The period 1945–1975 is often referred to as "The Burns Years" in Hawai‘i history books, and rightfully so. John A. Burns looms as Hawai‘i’s most significant political figure of the last half of the twentieth century. Burns entered politics at the close of World War II, working closely with organized labor leaders and Japanese-American war veterans to forge a Democratic party that would be an instrument of social change in Hawai‘i. For twelve years, over the course of three successive terms as governor, Burns helped to shape many important elements of Hawai‘i’s social and political structure that continue to this day. The central feature of Burns’ success was the coalition of labor and Americans of Japanese ancestry he created and worked so hard to sustain as party leader, Delegate-to-Congress, and Governor. That coalition took control of Hawai‘i’s legislature in 1954, its congressional delegation in 1956, and its executive office in 1962―and has held on to all three ever since.

John A. Burns: The Man and His Times (Latitude 20 Books)

Biographies & Memoirs

Boylan, Dan

Community & Culture

The period 1945-1975 is often referred to as "The Burns Years" in Hawaii history books, and rightfully so. John A. Burns looms as Hawaii's most significant political figure of the last half of the twentieth century. Burns entered politics at the close of World War II, working closely with organized labor leaders and Japanese-American war veterans to forge a Democratic party that would be an instrument of social change in Hawaii. For twelve years, over the course of three successive terms as governor, Burns helped to shape many important elements of Hawaii's social and political structure that continue to this day.

Univ of Hawaii Pr

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Books by Holmes, T. Michael