The sugar industry, along with whaling and sandalwood exportation, were the prime moneymakers in Hawai'i. Thus, these industries had a vested interest in Hawaiian politics, particularly key players such as the sugar planters, who were significant in the eventual U.S. annexation of Hawai'i. In conjunction with this political aspect, the development of sugar plantations also changed the face of the Hawaiian population. The large demand for laborers brought in millions of Chinese, Japanese, Portuguese, British, Germans, and Americans into the Hawaiian Islands which further diluted the already dwindling Native Hawaiian population.