History of Queen Lili’uokalani

Born Lydia Liki’u Loloku Walania Kamake’eha on September 2, 1838, Queen Lili’uokalani ruled as the only Queen Regent and the last sovereign monarch of the Kingdom of Hawai’i.  Lili’uokalai reigned for just under three years, from January 29, 1891 to January 17, 1893.

Lydia (Lili’uokalani) was the younger sister of King David Kalakaua (the “Merrie Monarch”).  Lydia and David’s mother was a trusted confidant of King Kamehameha III.  When Kamehameha V died in 1874 leaving no heir apparent, David Kalakaua was elected King.  David and Lydia’s younger brother died three years following David’s election after which Lydia was named Crown Princess and heir apparent to the throne and was henceforth known by the royal name; “Lili’uokalani”.

Thirteen years into King Kalakaua’s reign, in 1887, he was coerced into the signing of the “Reciprocity Treaty” also sometimes called the “Bayonett Constitution”, which was granted certain commercial concessions to wealthy haole business men and also provided the USA rights to use Pearl Harbor.  From that time onward, King Kalakaua had little real power.

Following the death of King Kalakaua in 1891, Lili’uokalani became Hawaii’s first ruling Queen in a short reign that was fighting against the tide of political and commercial interests from the start.  By 1893 wealthy commercial interests staged a coup that resulted in the establishment of a new government, the “Republic of Hawaii” in early 1894, with Sanford Dole as President.

Following an insurrection led by Robert Wilcox on behalf of the monarchy, Lili’uokalani was placed under house arrest in her home at Washington Place where she remained for three years.  Lili’uokalani fought strenuously to regain control of her kingdom even appealing to President Grover Cleveland – asking that he reinstate the Hawaiian Monarchy.  Cleveland was willing to grant Lili’uokalani’s request, on certain conditions (forgiveness of the coup perpetrators) that were unacceptable to Queen Lili’uokalani.  In 1895 Lili’uokanai abdicated the throne to secure the release of several of her key supporters, including Wilcox, and to gain the commutation of their death sentances.  Three years later in 1898, Hawaii was annexed by the United States, made a Territory in 1900, and finally a State in 1959.

Lili’uokalani lived out her final 24 years of life at the Washington Place estate just a short distance northeast of Iolani Palace, but she enjoyed stays at various other residences including “Paoakalani at Hamohamo Waikiki” (near the corner of Kuhio and Liliuokalani Avenues) as well as her “seaside cottage”;  “Kealohilani” at Kuhio Beach.

Today, the reign of Lili’uokalani remains deeply stirring to many people in that it marked the end of the Hawaiian Monarchy and Hawaiian rule of the Islands.  Thankfully, the years since have seen a resergency in a desire to preserve the Hawaiian culture and its traditions and there has emerged a deep appreciation and longing for the early Hawaiian way of life.