Ka Nupepa Kuokoa

Ka Nupepa Kuokoa (The Independent Newspaper) was a Hawaiian language newspaper which ran in circulation for 66 years (1861-1927) as the most popular Hawaiian national journal. In the Hawaiian Language kuokoa means "independent". The paper was begun in 1861, shortly after David Kalākaua began the first Hawaiian language, national paper entitled; Ka Hoku o Ka Pakipika (Star of the Pacific) edited by Hawaiians for Hawaiian interests. Henry Martyn Whitney, the son of missionaries began Kuokoa to run alongside his other publication, the Pacific Commercial Advertiser soon afterwards.

Whitney's two papers followed a similar political ideology from the missionary establishment of the time, however it was popular among the Hawaiian people due to the rich history, genealogies and mele (Hawaiian song) it printed regularly. Whitney himself was heavily influenced by American values, supported annexation, and held the Hawaiian people with little regard.

Prior to 1820, kānaka ʻōiwi or Native Hawaiians (also called kānaka maoli) had been communicating orally with a memory based history passed down through oral genealogy chants. Missionaries began developing a written Hawaiian language. By 1836 there were two Hawaiian Language newspapers, Lorrin Andrews' seminary publication; Ka Lama Hawaii, and a newspaper called Ke Kumu Hawaii. From 1836 to 1861, newspapers were printed by either Protestant or Catholic publishers or by the Kingdom government. Beginning in 1861, Hawaiian national newspapers would begin to be printed in the Hawaiian language by Native Hawaiians for indigenous Hawaiian interets. Kamehameha III had resisted the Calvinist Church for decades but in later years the missionaries went almost uncontested after the Mahele was forced into place. Kamehameha IV and his brother Lot, Kamehameha V resisted much of the church's politics and felt that church's ideals alone should not rule Hawaii.

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