Queen Lili’uokalani

Queen Lili‘uokalani was the last sovereign of Hawai‘i, ruling under the Kalākaua dynasty. She stands as a pivotal figure in Hawaiian history, admired for her efforts to preserve the sovereignty of the Hawaiian monarchy and her peaceful resistance to United States’ annexation of Hawaii in the 1890s.

She was born Lydia Kamakaeha on O’ahu in 1838 to a noble Hawaiian family with her mother, Keohokalole, acting as an adviser to King Kamehameha III. Her parents had 10 children, the majority of whom, including Lydia, were raised by other noble families. This custom, called hānai, was common among elite families in Hawaii as it helped establish strong bonds between them. Lydia’s claim to the throne came through her ‘foster parents,’ High Chief and Chiefess Pāki and Konia.

Her childhood was spent in the company of the royal family and other leaders, learning from missionaries, and touring the Western world. She attended multiple schools meant for children in the royal line, and became a talented music composer. In 1862 she married John Owen Dominis, an American from her school days and in 1866 would compose a national anthem for Hawaii, which would be used for the next 20 years. Between 1878 and 1910, she adopted three children, two of whom were through hānai.

In 1877, she became the crown princess and from then was known by her royal name, Lili‘uokalani. This followed the death of her youngest brother, W.P. Leleiohoku, who had been the heir apparent to her elder brother, King Kalākaua. She played an integral role during her brother’s reign, acting as his regent during his 1881 world tour and organizing schools for Hawaiian youth. She also spent this time traveling the world, meeting with foreign dignitaries, and keeping close to the Hawaiian people. She even attended the 1887 Queen’s Jubilee in London, to celebrate Queen Victoria’s fiftieth anniversary on the throne. In 1886, she organized the Lili‘uokalani Educational Society to provide schooling for impoverished Hawaiian girls.

Just a year later, King Kalākaua was forced to sign the “Bayonet Constitution” by American businessmen. This new constitution significantly diminished the monarchy’s powers. Lili‘uokalani vehemently opposed it alongside the Reciprocal Treaty, which gave commercial privileges to the US. Following Kalākaua’s death in 1891, Lili‘uokalani was sworn in as queen, making her the first woman to rule Hawaii. After taking the throne, she aimed to restore the monarchy’s powers and sovereignty, announcing in 1893 plans to change the constitution to revert power to the Hawaiian government. This threatened Western businessmen and in response they, along with the US military, organized a coup that deposed her and set up a provisional government that same year.

She made various attempts to reinstate herself, even agreeing with then US President Cleveland to pardon those who had been involved in the coup, but the provisional government that took hold after the coup denied this possibility and she would have no real chance for later reinstatement. In 1894, Hawaii was declared a republic and a year after that Lili‘uokalani and 6 of her supporters were placed under arrest and charged with treason for inciting a failed insurrection, although sources vary on whether or not such an insurrection actually occurred. Regardless, Lili‘uokalani agreed shortly after to sign a formal abdication in exchange for the pardon of the supporters who had led the revolt. Hawaii would later be annexed by the US in 1898.

1898 also saw the release of Lili‘uokalani’s memoir, Hawaii’s Story by Hawaii’s Queen. It is the only autobiography written by a Hawaiian monarch, featuring several monumental events including her rise to the throne, the overthrow of the monarchy, and her arrest and trial in 1895 for suspected treason. As leader of the “Stand Firm” (Oni pa’a) movement, Lili’uokalani continued to fight against U.S. annexation and for Hawaiian sovereignty and culture retention, and would do so for the rest of her life. Despite her efforts, Hawaii became the 50th US state in 1959. In 1993, exactly one hundred years after the coup, the US government officially apologized for the overthrow of the Hawaiian government.

On November 11, 1917, aged 79, Queen Lili‘uokalani died of a stroke. The Hawaiians gave her a royal funeral, and today she is still remembered for the diligent work she did for the islands. Her 1892 Highways Act defined and protected Hawaiian trails and even endures today as a tool that the state uses to protect public lands from privatization, including over much of the Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail. She is also remembered for her songs, which continued to be published throughout the time of her arrest, and other philanthropic efforts, including setting up a trust for and leaving her estate to help Hawaiian children in need, and donating part of her estate to the Hawaiian people, a piece that is today known as the Lili’uokalani Garden.

Queen Liliuokalani's resilience, cultural contributions, and unwavering dedication to Hawaii's sovereignty make her a revered figure, leaving an indelible mark on the history of the islands. The state of the land may be very different if not for her foresight in protecting Hawaii’s beauty, and her role in capturing the history and culture of the islands is indisputable. Both serve as a reminder of just how lasting an impact even one person can have, with the right drive and devotion to their cause.