In addition to your initial claims of "empowerment" to the Polynesian you don't have to go far to find Act 57, sec. 30 of the 1896 of the "republic".  Where they established that English and only English would be taught in all schools.  While it didn't ban or make Hawaiian language illegal per se, its implementation would have the desired effect.  There is nothing more DISEMPOWERING than to make an attempt to wipe out the source of a people's identity and culture.  These same tactics were used on many Natives within the Americas as well as other parts of the world (i.e. Korea during Japanese occupation).  These are culturally violent acts against peoples and clear evidence of racism, subjugation, and disempowerment against indigenous peoples.