Diver Dave. I don't take it a certain way, it's meant to be that way.  Empathy: the ability to understand and share the feelings of another.  You're perspective that we're all better off because of the way things are now is not true in fact, it is your perspective.  In 1893 the whole United States was a whole lot worse off and less free than it is today. Comparing the conditions of Hawaiians in 1893 to 2017 is like comparing apples and GMO corn, they aren't comparable.  What you should probably compare is quality of life the average Hawaiian subject had under the kingdom in 1893 to that of an average western pioneer or American "citizen" in 1893.  How would Hawaiian indigenous peoples, their language, culture, society, and way of life fair in an American Colony over the next 124 years VS if they had been left to determine their own path.  The USA robbed us of the chance to create and improve something of our own here, unique with a Hawaiian perspective.