“congress adopted a hands-off policy towards hawaii” mean

(D) Congress would not interfere in Hawaiian affairs

Explanation:

This question is a multiple-choice question for an article about the annexation of Hawaii by the United States. The question refers to this paragraph:

Meanwhile, the provisional government had elected its first President. This President, President Dole, refused to give the government back to the Queen. Dole’s new government created a new constitution and declared Hawaii an independent Republic. Other countries began to recognize the new republic. Congress voted to adopt a hands-off policy towards Hawaii.

A hands-off policy, in this case, means that Congress of the United States won't get involved in the new Hawaii Republic. The republic itself was made by the government established by Americans who previously were in Hawaii to conduct business and is in favor of overthrowing the previous monarch, Queen Liliuokalani.