Encyclopedia, Difference between revisions of "Queen Liliuokalani" - New World

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Shortly after she gained power, she tried to abrogate the "[[Bayonet Constitution]],"  and draft a new constitution that would restore power to the monarchy. In her new constitution she stipulated that only naturalized, or native male Hawaiians could vote. Many viewed this as a threat to progress.
 
Shortly after she gained power, she tried to abrogate the "[[Bayonet Constitution]],"  and draft a new constitution that would restore power to the monarchy. In her new constitution she stipulated that only naturalized, or native male Hawaiians could vote. Many viewed this as a threat to progress.
  
Additionally, the [[McKinley Act]] created havoc with Hawaii's favored status in regards to the [[sugar]] industry.  The [[Reciprocity Agreement]], which eliminated tarrifs, created a sugar market that was just as profitable from other countries. The poor economy bolstered the idea of [[annexation]] and a group of businessmen with that goal in mind started an Annexation Club. They conspired in secret to overthrow the Queen. On January 17, 1893, aided by the American minister in Hawaii at the time, [[John L. Stevens]], who ordered troops from the [[USS Boston (1884)|U.S.S. ''Boston'']] ashore, they deposed the Queen and established a new provisional government.
+
Additionally, the [[McKinley Act]] created havoc with Hawaii's favored status in regards to the [[sugar]] industry.  The [[Reciprocity Agreement]], which eliminated tarrifs, created a sugar market that was just as profitable when purchased from other countries. The struggling economy in Hawaii bolstered the idea of [[annexation]] and a group of businessmen with that goal in mind started an Annexation Club. They conspired in secret to overthrow the Queen. On January 17, 1893, aided by the American minister in Hawaii at the time, [[John L. Stevens]], who ordered troops from the [[USS Boston (1884)|U.S.S. ''Boston'']] ashore, the Queen was deposed and a new provisional government was established.
  
 
==Republic of Hawaii is established==
 
==Republic of Hawaii is established==
However, President [[Grover Cleveland]], who was in sympathy with the Queen, commissioned the [[Blount Report]], and based on its findings, concluded that the overthrow of Liliuokalani was handled illegally. On November 16, 1893 he offered to give the throne back to Liliuokalani if she would grant amnesty to everyone involved.  (She initially refused.) The [[United States House of Representatives]] agreed with the President but the [[Senate]] did not support him. In the meanwhile those that supported annexation continued to lobby the federal government.
+
President [[Grover Cleveland]], who was in sympathy with the Queen, commissioned the [[Blount Report]], and based on its findings, concluded that the overthrow of Liliuokalani was handled illegally. On November 16, 1893 he offered to give the throne back to Liliuokalani if she would grant amnesty to everyone involved.  (She initially refused.) The [[United States House of Representatives]] agreed with the President but the [[Senate]] did not support him. In the meanwhile those that supported annexation continued to lobby the federal government.
  
Congress responded to Cleveland's referral with another investigation, and submitted the [[Morgan Report]] by the U.S. Senate on February 26, 1894, which exonerated both Minister Stevens and the U.S. troops from any responsibility for the overthrow. On July 4, 1894, the [[Republic of Hawaii|Republic of Hawaii]] was proclaimed and [[Sanford B. Dole]] became President. The Republic of Hawaii was recognized immediately by the United States government, although  [[Walter Q. Gresham]], Cleveland's Secretary of State, remained antagonistic towards the new government.<ref>''The Pacific Historical Review'', Vol. 52, No. 3 (Aug. 1983), pp. 292-311 "Morality and Spite: Walter Q. Gresham and U.S. Relations with Hawaii"</ref>
+
Congress responded to Cleveland's referral with another investigation, and submitted the [[Morgan Report]] by the U.S. Senate on February 26, 1894, which exonerated both Minister Stevens and the U.S. troops from any responsibility for the overthrow. On July 4, 1894, the [[Republic of Hawaii|Republic of Hawaii]] was proclaimed and [[Sanford B. Dole]] became its first president. The Republic of Hawaii was recognized immediately by the United States government, although  [[Walter Q. Gresham]], Cleveland's Secretary of State, remained antagonistic towards the new government.<ref>''The Pacific Historical Review'', Vol. 52, No. 3 (Aug. 1983), pp. 292-311 "Morality and Spite: Walter Q. Gresham and U.S. Relations with Hawaii"</ref>
  
 
== Abdication==
 
== Abdication==
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Liliuokalani was arrested on January 16, 1895 (several days after a failed rebellion by [[Robert William Wilcox|Robert Wilcox]]) when [[firearm]]s were found in the gardens of her home, of which she denied any knowledge. She was sentenced to five years of hard labor in prison and fined $5000, but the sentence was commuted to imprisonment in an upstairs bedroom of [[Iolani Palace]].
 
Liliuokalani was arrested on January 16, 1895 (several days after a failed rebellion by [[Robert William Wilcox|Robert Wilcox]]) when [[firearm]]s were found in the gardens of her home, of which she denied any knowledge. She was sentenced to five years of hard labor in prison and fined $5000, but the sentence was commuted to imprisonment in an upstairs bedroom of [[Iolani Palace]].
  
After eight months, she abdicated her throne in return for the release of her jailed supporters. Failing in her appeals to the American government to regain her throne, she unsuccessfully entered against the federal government claims totaling $450,000 for property and other losses, making personal claim to the crown lands. The territorial legislature of Hawaii finally voted her an annual pension of $4,000 and permitted her to receive the income from a sugar plantation of 6,000 acres (24 km²). She went home to [[Washington Place]], where she lived as a private citizen until her death in 1917 due to complications from a stroke. She was 79.
+
After eight months, she abdicated her throne in return for the release of her jailed supporters. Failing in her appeals to the American government to regain her throne, she unsuccessfully entered claims against the federal government totaling $450,000 for property and other losses, making personal claim to the crown lands. The territorial legislature of Hawaii finally voted her an annual pension of $4,000 and permitted her to receive the income from a sugar plantation of 6,000 acres (24 km²). She went home to [[Washington Place]], where she lived as a private citizen until her death in 1917 due to complications from a stroke. She was 79.
  
 
==Annexation==
 
==Annexation==
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In 1897, Liliuokalani wrote ''Hawaii's Story by Hawaii's Queen,'' in which she gives her account of Hawaiian history including the overthrow of the monarchy.
 
In 1897, Liliuokalani wrote ''Hawaii's Story by Hawaii's Queen,'' in which she gives her account of Hawaiian history including the overthrow of the monarchy.
  
She was also an accomplished [[songwriter]];  one of  her best-known musical compositions is the song, ''Aloha Oe''.  
+
She was also an accomplished [[songwriter]];  one of  her best-known musical compositions is the song, ''Aloha Oe''. Additionally, she translated many Hawaiian stories into English.
  
 
Before her death she established a trust fund for orphaned Hawaiian children.  From her trust, the social service agency, "Queen Liliuokalani's Children Center," which is still in existence today, was created to help orphaned and economically disadvantaged Hawaiian children.[http://www.qlcc.org/]
 
Before her death she established a trust fund for orphaned Hawaiian children.  From her trust, the social service agency, "Queen Liliuokalani's Children Center," which is still in existence today, was created to help orphaned and economically disadvantaged Hawaiian children.[http://www.qlcc.org/]

Revision as of 22:33, 23 April 2007

Queen Liliuokalani
Liliuokalani.jpg
Her Majesty Liliuokalani, Queen of Hawaii
Birth name Lydia Kamakaeha
Reign January 20, 1891 - January 17, 1893
Successor the Last Hawaiian Monarch
Predecessor Kalākaua
Consort John Owen Dominis
Born September 2, 1838
Died November 11, 1917

Liliuokalani, Queen of Hawaii (September 2, 1838 – November 11, 1917), originally named Lydia Kamakaeha, also known as Lydia Kamakaeha Paki, had the royal name of Liliuokalani given to her by her brother, King Kalakaua when he declared her his heir apparent to the throne. Later, after she was deposed, she was required to revert back to her Christian married name, Lydia K. Dominis. Although her reign was short - only two years -. it would prove to be eventful. She was the last monarch of the Kingdom of Hawaii as Hawaii was then known. Her reign marked an important crossroads for Hawaii, which was resultantly annexed and later made a territory and then granted statehood. Although Queen Liliuokalani resisted strongly these developments, in many ways her life would prove to be an important symbol of time honored tradition merging with the newly sewn seeds of democracy.

Early life

Hawaii’s last sovereign queen was born on September 2, 1838, in Honolulu. She was born to High Chief Caesar Kapa'akea and High Chiefess Keohokalole. Her Christian name given at her baptism was, "Lydia." She became a hanai child when she was offered to High Chief Paki and H.C. Konia (a grand daughter of King Kamehameha I). Hanai is a tradition whereby a child is adopted into a royal family in order to secure a higher rank for that child. The hanai tradition also served to bond the families of chiefs to one another. Liliuokalani’s childhood years were spent studying and playing with Bernice Pauahi, the Paki's natural daughter, who she considered her hanai sister. Liliuokalani was educated at the Royal School, a boarding school run by Christian missionaries. Although, she was saddened to leave home, she excelled in her studies and became fluent in English. She also demonstrated a gift for piano and singing; talents that would be important to her throughout life. She enjoyed studying the Greek myths as she could easily relate them to her own knowledge of Hawaiian legends.

Reign

On September 16, 1862, at the age of 24, she married John Owen Dominis, who became Governor of Oahu and Maui. They had no children although later she was given three hanai children. When her younger brother Prince William Pitt Leleiohoku died, Liluokalani was made heir apparent by her other brother, the king, thus becoming "Princess" a role that she took seriously. (Her own heir apparent for several years was her niece Victoria Kaiulani, although Kaiulani ended up predeceasing her.) In 1877 she visited all of the Hawaiian islands with her husband including the leper colony on Molokai where Father Damien lived and worked with those suffering from the highly contagious disease of leprosy. In 1881 she was credited for helping to contain a small pox edidemic, to the island of O'ahu, by ordering government ministers to stop travel between the islands.

She served as regent when her brother, King Kalākaua was gone on royal business and in that same year she served as an interpreter when she visited Queen Victoria with the Hawaiin royal delegation. It was while in England, that the seeds were sewn for the controversial Bayonet Constitution which would limit the power of the monarchy in Hawaii. There were many residents of Hawaii who wished to see a monarchy that was more similar to a Constitutional Monarchy, one that gave less power to reigning heads of state and more to a cabinet and legislature. Liluokalani did not agree with her brother's signing of this agreement after his visit to England.

When Liliuokalani's brother, the King, suddently died she inherited the throne on January 17, 1891. Seven months later her husband, who had been her support and companion, died as well.

Bayonet Constitution and the sugar trade

Shortly after she gained power, she tried to abrogate the "Bayonet Constitution," and draft a new constitution that would restore power to the monarchy. In her new constitution she stipulated that only naturalized, or native male Hawaiians could vote. Many viewed this as a threat to progress.

Additionally, the McKinley Act created havoc with Hawaii's favored status in regards to the sugar industry. The Reciprocity Agreement, which eliminated tarrifs, created a sugar market that was just as profitable when purchased from other countries. The struggling economy in Hawaii bolstered the idea of annexation and a group of businessmen with that goal in mind started an Annexation Club. They conspired in secret to overthrow the Queen. On January 17, 1893, aided by the American minister in Hawaii at the time, John L. Stevens, who ordered troops from the U.S.S. Boston ashore, the Queen was deposed and a new provisional government was established.

Republic of Hawaii is established

President Grover Cleveland, who was in sympathy with the Queen, commissioned the Blount Report, and based on its findings, concluded that the overthrow of Liliuokalani was handled illegally. On November 16, 1893 he offered to give the throne back to Liliuokalani if she would grant amnesty to everyone involved. (She initially refused.) The United States House of Representatives agreed with the President but the Senate did not support him. In the meanwhile those that supported annexation continued to lobby the federal government.

Congress responded to Cleveland's referral with another investigation, and submitted the Morgan Report by the U.S. Senate on February 26, 1894, which exonerated both Minister Stevens and the U.S. troops from any responsibility for the overthrow. On July 4, 1894, the Republic of Hawaii was proclaimed and Sanford B. Dole became its first president. The Republic of Hawaii was recognized immediately by the United States government, although Walter Q. Gresham, Cleveland's Secretary of State, remained antagonistic towards the new government.[1]

Abdication

Liliuokalani was arrested on January 16, 1895 (several days after a failed rebellion by Robert Wilcox) when firearms were found in the gardens of her home, of which she denied any knowledge. She was sentenced to five years of hard labor in prison and fined $5000, but the sentence was commuted to imprisonment in an upstairs bedroom of Iolani Palace.

After eight months, she abdicated her throne in return for the release of her jailed supporters. Failing in her appeals to the American government to regain her throne, she unsuccessfully entered claims against the federal government totaling $450,000 for property and other losses, making personal claim to the crown lands. The territorial legislature of Hawaii finally voted her an annual pension of $4,000 and permitted her to receive the income from a sugar plantation of 6,000 acres (24 km²). She went home to Washington Place, where she lived as a private citizen until her death in 1917 due to complications from a stroke. She was 79.

Annexation

On July 7, 1898 President William McKinley signed the Annexation Treaty. Queen Liliuokalani visited Washington D.C. in protest, although it seemed that annexation would be inevitable. Queen Liliuokalani continued to attend other Hawaiian ceremonial events as deposed Queen, however, she did the Annexation ceremony held....? where

Hawaii was annexed to the United States, along with Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines, as a result of the Spanish-American War through a joint resolution of the U.S. Congress in 1898. Cuba, where the precipitating event of the war occurred (the explosion of the battleship USS Maine in Havana), was never annexed by the United States.

Legacy

File:Liliuokalani at Capitol.jpg
The statue of Queen Liliuokalani on the grounds of the State Capitol in Honolulu, Hawaii

In 1897, Liliuokalani wrote Hawaii's Story by Hawaii's Queen, in which she gives her account of Hawaiian history including the overthrow of the monarchy.

She was also an accomplished songwriter; one of her best-known musical compositions is the song, Aloha Oe. Additionally, she translated many Hawaiian stories into English.

Before her death she established a trust fund for orphaned Hawaiian children. From her trust, the social service agency, "Queen Liliuokalani's Children Center," which is still in existence today, was created to help orphaned and economically disadvantaged Hawaiian children.[1]

References
ISBN links support NWE through referral fees

  • Lowe Hasegawa, Ruby. Lili'uokalani, Kamehameha Schools Press, Honolulu, 1993. ISBN 0873360184

Notes

  1. The Pacific Historical Review, Vol. 52, No. 3 (Aug. 1983), pp. 292-311 "Morality and Spite: Walter Q. Gresham and U.S. Relations with Hawaii"

External links

Preceded by:
Kalākaua
as
King of Hawaii
Leader of Hawaii
1891 - 1893
Succeeded by:
Sanford B. Dole
as
President of the Republic of Hawaii
Monarchs of Hawaiʻi Kingdom of Hawai'i
Kamehameha I | Kamehameha II | Kamehameha III | Kamehameha IV
Kamehameha V | Lunalilo | Kalākaua | Liliʻuokalani

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