Hawaiian perspective:

Capt. James Cook of the British Royal Navy set up a blockade at Kealakekua Bay after the theft of one of his boats. To prove his point, he tries to take hostage the high chief Kalaniʻōpuʻu.

Confusion ensues and a chief is shot by Cook’s men for not obeying the blockade.

And in this one tense moment, the chiefs are not having it, they’re not going to let Kalaniʻōpuʻu take another step forward and anybody who tries to move him is going to get it. And that’s when Cook is killed," she continued.

Abad said this was a symbolic moment for Native Hawaiians. Cook’s arrival brought with it infectious diseases that devastated the Native Hawaiian population.

“There’s a growing sense that we can no longer tolerate the big and small incursions upon our land and our people and our culture and our language,” Abad said. “And James Cook represents some of the worst of what has happened.”

She said when Cook’s continued behavior ended that day, it was a relief to Native Hawaiians. “It’s something in some areas that might even be a source of pride.”

https://www.hawaiipublicradio.org/local-news/2023-02-13/valentines-day-marks-death-of-james-cook-a-significant-day-for-native-hawaiians

I found another perspective that I could not confirm if it is Hawaiian and looks kinda sus but it says:

The Hawaiians, accustomed to visitors leaving their shores after a short stay, began to see the prolonged presence of Cook and his men as a violation of their norms and hospitality.

The situation deteriorated when Cook’s ships returned to Hawaii for repairs after initially leaving, breaking the cultural protocol of the Makahiki season. This unexpected return was seen as an ill omen by the Hawaiians.

In an attempt to regain control, Cook planned to take Kalaniʻōpuʻu, the high chief of Hawaii, hostage. This act was a grave miscalculation, deeply offending the Hawaiians and challenging their sovereignty. The resulting confrontation, fueled by cultural misunderstandings and the Hawaiians’ defense of their dignity and leadership, led to Cook’s death. From the Hawaiian viewpoint, this was not a mere act of violence but a defense of their land, culture, and leaders against what they perceived as an overstepping of boundaries by the foreigners.

For Hawaiians, the death of Cook marked a significant moment in their history, signifying the complexities of early encounters with Europeans. It underscores the impact of foreign intrusion on indigenous cultures and the inevitable clash when cultural norms and values are misunderstood or disregarded. Cook’s death, from the Hawaiian perspective, is a story of resistance against foreign dominance and a poignant reminder of the need for mutual respect in cross-cultural interactions.

https://www.frnwh.com/2024/02/the-hawaiian-perspective-understanding-the-death-of-captain-james-cook/