Liliuokalani
Liliuokalani, born Lydia Liliʻu Loloku Walania Wewehi Kamakaʻeha on September 2, 1838, was the last monarch and only queen regnant of the Kingdom of Hawaii. Her reign was marked by significant political turmoil and the eventual overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy.
Early Life
Liliuokalani was born into a high-ranking Hawaiian family, as the daughter of Caesar Kapaakea and Analea Keohokalole. She was educated at the Royal School, where she learned English and was exposed to Western culture alongside other Hawaiian royalty.
Marriage and Royal Duties
In 1862, she married John Owii Dominis, an American-born man, and together they had no children, though she adopted several. Following the death of her brother, King Kalakaua, in 1891, Liliuokalani ascended to the throne.
Reign
Her reign was fraught with challenges:
- She sought to amend the Bayonet Constitution of 1887, which had diminished the monarchy's power and disenfranchised many native Hawaiians. Her proposed changes aimed at restoring some of the monarch's authority and rights for native Hawaiians.
- Her efforts were met with resistance from the Hawaiian League and other pro-American and business interests who feared losing their economic and political advantages.
- In 1893, a group of American and European businessmen, with support from the U.S. Minister to Hawaii, John L. Stevens, overthrew the monarchy. This event, known as the Overthrow of the Kingdom of Hawaii, led to the establishment of the Provisional Government of Hawaii.
Post-Overthrow
After the overthrow:
- Liliuokalani was placed under house arrest at Iolani Palace for nearly eight months after she attempted to regain her throne through a failed counter-revolution.
- She later traveled to the United States to appeal to President Grover Cleveland for the restoration of her throne, but her efforts were unsuccessful.
- She devoted the remainder of her life to writing music and books. Her most famous composition is "Aloha ʻOe," which she wrote during her imprisonment.
Legacy
Liliuokalani's legacy includes:
- Her contributions to Hawaiian music, with her songs becoming emblematic of Hawaiian culture.
- Her writings, including her autobiography "Hawaii's Story by Hawaii's Queen," which offers her perspective on the events leading to the overthrow.
- Her philanthropy; she established the Queen Liliuokalani Children's Center to care for orphaned and destitute children.
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