HONOLULU (KHON2) — Sept. 2 marks the 187th birthday of Queen Liliʻuokalani, the only queen regnant and last monarch of the Hawaiian Kingdom.
Liliʻuokalani was born in 1838 into the House of Kalākaua, and ascended to the throne following the death of her brother, King Kalākaua.
Liliʻuokalani’s reign was just shy of four years, and was unfortunately cut short due to the illegal overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom, which was made possible by “the active participation of agents and citizens of the United States…” per Congress’s 1993 Apology Resolution.
During and after the 1893 overthrow, Liliʻuokalani dedicated her time to ensuring the safety and wellbeing of her subjects, including advocating for the islands’ sovereignty to the U.S. government.
Subsequently, Liliʻuokalani and her supporters were jailed for attempting to fight against the overthrow of the kingdom. In 1895, she was forced to abdicate, or renounce, her throne and her power, in exchange for the safety and freedom of her supporters.
Prior to the illegal overthrow and the United States illegally annexing the islands, Liliʻuokalani’s reign was dedicated to the service of her people, as demonstrated through her actions to restore voting rights to the Native Hawaiian population.
Outside of her duties as queen, Liliʻuokalani was a prolific composer, as she wrote famous songs such as “He Mele Lāhui Hawaiʻi” and “Aloha ʻOe.”
Her writing skills extended past music, with her book “Hawaii’s Story by Hawaii’s Queen,” detailing the early years of her life, ascension to the throne, overthrow of her kingdom and aftermath of the overthrow.
ʻIolani Palace will be celebrating her Liliʻuokalani’s birthday and Hawaiian History Month throughout September, with free palace tours on Sept. 6, and walking tours of the illegal overthrow on Sept. 6, Sept. 7 and Sept. 13. For information on special events, visit the palace’s website.
On her birthday, we honor and respect Liliʻuokalani’s life and legacy, which includes the maintained success and prosperity for the islands. Hauʻoli Lā Hānau e Queen Liliʻuokalani.