What Happened to Queen Liliuokalani - Her Life, Her Legacy

Queen Liliuokalani (1838-1917), the last monarch of the Hawaiian Kingdom, reigned during one of Hawaii's most turbulent periods in history. She fought for her people's rights, wrote a new constitution to restore native Hawaiian sovereignty, and endured death threats and extortion attempts in pursuit of her cause.

She was overthrown in 1893 through a coup orchestrated by United States businessmen and politicians with sugar interests. Her throne was taken by American military forces, and she was ultimately imprisoned.

Her Life

Queen Liliuokalani was born as Lydia Liliu Loloku Walania Kamakaeha on September 2, 1838 in Honolulu and rose to become the first monarch of her country from 1891-1995. Additionally, she was renowned for her writing and musical talent.

Her parents were high chiefs, and she had numerous biological siblings. At a young age she was adopted by High Chief Abner Paki and his wife Laura Konia - the granddaughter of King Kamehameha I - when she was young.

At the age of 16, she attended a Christian missionaries-run boarding school in Hawaii where her studies fostered an interest in literature and music. As part of their celebration of Hawaiian heritage and culture, she composed several poems and songs that became beloved classics, such as "Aloha 'Oe" (which translates to "love"), which became one of her signature hits.

In 1887, Queen Victoria of England cordially invited the royal family to attend a celebration of her fiftieth year on the throne in London. While there, Liliuokalani met with President Grover Cleveland in Washington D.C. The two discussed matters related to sovereignty within their countries and Hawaii's independence from America.

After her trip, Liliuokalani returned home and began drafting a new constitution that would restore native Hawaiian rights. However, this initiative was opposed by American businessmen and settlers who desired more control over Hawaii.

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Hawaii's monarchy began to disintegrate. American plantation owners and sugar planters began exerting their own power and influence within the Kingdom of Hawaii.

King Kalakaua sought to regain control over their government and rights. To prevent this from occurring, King Kalakaua signed the Bayonet Constitution, which limited the powers of the royal government and gave much more authority to American businessmen and settlers.

This caused numerous political conflicts and unrest within the kingdom, ultimately leading to her signing an abdication document.

Despite this setback, she continued to write and publish books about her life and country. She even translated the traditional Hawaiian chant "Kumulipo" into English so that future generations could learn of her story.

Her Death

Queen Liliuokalani passed away in 1917 at the ripe age of seventy-nine. As the last sovereign monarch and sole woman to rule Hawaii, she left behind a legacy as an devoted mother and champion for Native Hawaiians, as well as being an accomplished writer and musician.

Queen Liliuokalani was born in 1838 near Honolulu to a Hawaiian noble family. Her father passed away when she was young, leaving her care solely with her mother. Raised within the tradition of Hawaiian culture that encouraged friendships between members of different families, Queen Liliuokalani fostered an affinity for travel and exploration throughout her childhood years.

As a teenager, Liliuokalani attended the Royal School in Honolulu and quickly rose to become an impressive student. She demonstrated exceptional intelligence and talent by writing hundreds of songs, eventually becoming known as a master of music.

As queen, she sought to restore power to her people. To make Hawaii an independent country, she drafted a constitution that would grant more authority back to the monarchy instead of wealthy American businessmen.

But she soon encountered opposition from powerful sugar planters and American businessmen who sought to expand their own influence over the islands. When she advocated for more independence in government, these wealthy landowners attempted to overthrow her and install King Kalakaua on the throne instead.

Ultimately, their efforts paid off and the Hawaiian monarchy was overthrown in 1891. As a result, the United States began prepping for annexation of Hawaii by sending troops to the islands.

Queen Liliuokalani wrote songs during her imprisonment that conveyed secret messages to her people. These compositions were published in a Hawaiian-language newspaper and people throughout Hawaii sent her letters of love and support while she was behind bars.

Queen Liliuokalani only reigned three years, yet her legacy will live on. Buried at the Liliuokalani Mausoleum in Honolulu, she remains a significant figure in Hawaii's history.

Her legacy lives on in Hawaii, where she founded the Liliuokalani Trust to help Native Hawaiian orphans. This trust, established with most of her estate, continues to this day and has provided more than $40 million in funding for orphans.

Her Legacy

Her Life, Her Legacy is a community resource for people of all ages to find and listen to what truly matters in their lives. By engaging with one another deeply and cultivating an uplifting sense of purpose, they gain the courage to maximize their own lives while contributing meaningfully to their communities.

She was a leader of the people, advocating for freedom in Hawai'i and becoming its first sovereign queen. Unfortunately, her reign was short lived as she was overthrown by an American group of business owners and military officers in January 1893.

Queen Lili'uokalani was a determined woman with an intense devotion to her people, dedicating her reign to restoring native Hawaiian rights and traditions. She battled against the oppression and corruption that had become all too commonplace in the islands under her brother's rule.

She dedicated herself to the preservation of her country's culture and history, writing over 160 songs including Aloha 'Oe - which became its national anthem. Her legacy can be seen through her establishment of a bank for women, fund to support Hawaiian girls' education, and Queen Lili'uokalani Trust that aids Hawaiian orphans.

Her story serves as a reminder that we must preserve the past to build for the future, and it's truly inspirational to learn of her accomplishments. As an iconic global figure, she has inspired generations around the globe to follow in her footsteps and pursue their own aspirations.

In her own words, she said: 'When I look back on my life, the things that matter most are the people and places that were important to me.'

As a young woman, she made it her mission to raise funds for Hawai'i's first hospital. Determinated to give her native island access to medical treatment for diseases like smallpox and influenza, she dedicated herself to this cause.

As a result of her efforts, the first hospital opened in Honolulu in 1860 to combat disease spread by foreigners. In her later years she dedicated herself to philanthropy; setting up a bank for women, creating a fund to support Hawaiian education for women, and founding The Queen Lili'uokalani Trust to care for Hawaiian orphans.

Her Place in History

No woman in Hawai'i history was more influential than Queen Liliuokalani. As both the first Hawaiian queen and last monarch, she dedicated much of her life to upholding Hawaii's independence from foreign annexation while supporting her people. Additionally, Queen Liliuokalani had a gifted musical talent; writing more than 150 songs including Aloha 'Oe, the national anthem, as well as "Mai Wakinekona a Iolani Hale" (From Washington Palace to 'Iolani Palace), both testaments to Hawaii's rich cultural heritage.

Liliuokalani was born in 1838 to a high chief and an influential advisor to King Kamehameha III. Raised with missionary values, she was sent on an educational tour around Western civilization when still young. Later she wed John Owen Dominis - a Boston sea captain and official in the Royal Court - which culminated with her engagement to John Owen Dominis.

Her husband passed away in 1891, yet she remained in Honolulu and became active in restoring native Hawaiian rights and traditions - especially those related to agriculture. She raised funds for Queen's Hospital as well as advocating for a bank for women and an educational fund for Hawaiian girls.

Despite her efforts to restore native Hawaiian rights, American plantation and business interests sought more control over the island kingdom. In 1887, she opposed the Bayonet Constitution which transferred power to the legislature and gave non-Hawaiians more influence in elections. By returning more control back to the monarchy, she hoped to strengthen native Hawaiian culture while keeping Hawaii independent from America.

She was an enthusiastic supporter of native Hawaiian culture, yet she opposed the Reciprocity Treaty signed by her predecessor David Kalakaua that gave more power to the United States and allowed Hawaii to cede a major port in Pearl Harbor to it. This position alienated Hawaii's haole--foreign businessmen--from their homeland.

Even after her abdication in 1895, Liliuokalani continued to make a difference in the lives of Hawaiian people. She advocated for the preservation of native Hawaiian rights and traditions, wrote songs in her free time, and supported orphans through the Queen Liliuokalani Trust.