Honolulu -- September 2, 1838

On this day, Lydia Lili'u Loloku Walania Wewehi Kamaka'eha was born to Hawai'ian royalty (ali'i). Her birth parents were Caesar Kapa'akea and Anale'a Keohokālole. Her siblings were Prince (later King) David Kalākaua, Princess Miriam Likelike and Prince William Pitt Leleiōhoku.

In accordance with the custom of hanai, Princess Lydia, or Lili'u, was adopted at birth by ali'i Laura Konia and Abner Paki. The Princess played and studied with her adopted sister, Bernice Pauahi.

Hawai'ian royalty blended the customs of their own land ('aina), with European royal ceremony. Princess Lydia was raised in the missionary tradition, attended the Royal School with her birth siblings, and toured the United States and Europe.

On September 16, 1862, Princess Lydia married John O. Dominis, son of a Boston sea captain. They lived in the home he built for his mother, Washington Place. In 1868, Dominis was appointed the Royal Governor of the Islands of O'ahu and Maui.

When Hawai'ian monarchs died without leaving an heir, the ali'i would gather to elect the successor. Thus it was that Princess Lydia's brother, David Kalākaua, became King upon the death of William Charles Lunalilo in 1874. Kalākaua won the throne overwhelmingly, but supporters of the late Kin's wife, Queen Emma, rioted when Kalākaua took the throne.

The new King was an avowed monarchist. Rather than permit another election upon his passing, he named his own successor, his brother, Prince William Pitt Leleiōhoku. When Prince William died in 1877, the King named Princess Lydia as his successor, whereupon she took on the name Lili'uokalani.

King Kalākaua was a conservative who believed in the right of the ali'i to rule, and he promised to reserve government offices for Native Hawai'ians. His reign saw a revival of the Hawai'ian traditions of hula and chant, earning hin th nickname, "Merrie Monarch." He was a keen student of world politics and traveled around the world to learn the ways of other world leaders.

The King caused 'Iolani Palace to be built at the then-unheard of cost of $300,000.

The First Blow

But in 1887, the Hawaiian League, a secret group founded by Lorrin A. Thurston and formed of mostly American planters, businessmen and descendents of missionaries, took over the government's militia, the Hawaiian Rifles, which then became the League's military arm. Thurston wrote a new Constitution for Hawai'i, known as the "Bayonet Constitution," which limited the role of native Hawai'ians and Hawai'ian royalty. King Kalākaua was forced to sign this Constitution in 1887.

King Kalākaua suffered from poor health, and the diminishing of his royal powers did not help. In 1890, the royal physician advised the King to travel to California to recuperate.

The travel cure failed. King David Kalākaua died in the Palace Hotel in San Francisco on January 20, 1891. On January 29, Crown Princess Lili'uokalani was proclaimed Queen. She named her young niece, Princess Victoria Ka'iulani Cleghorn, as her successor.

Upon ascending to the throne, the new Queen, though unwilling, pledged to uphold the Bayonet Constitution. (Nevertheless, in 1892, Lorrin Thurston and other members of the old Hawaiian League formed a new secret group, the Annexation Club, dedicated to overthrow of the monarchy.)

The Queen's husband, Prince Royal Consort John Dominis, died seven months after Lili'uokalani's ascension.

On January 14, 1893, Queen Lili'uokalani introduced a new Constitution, restoring the rights of Native Hawai'ians and ali'i, to guests assembled at 'Iolani Palace. Fearing retribution, her Cabinet refused to sign the Constitution. After heated debate, the Queen agreed to defer action.

Queen Lili'uokalani's efforts provoked the Annexation Club to form a new organization, the Committee of Safety. The Committee operated with the support of the American Minister to Hawai'i, and with a wink and a nod from U.S. President Benjamin Harrison.

At dusk on January 17, 1893, members of the Committee walked up to the silent Government Building. American troops imported from Boston stood by in support. The new provisional government was declared to a sparse audience, and the American Minister recognized the new government.

Not wishing to embroil her beloved nation in bloodshed, Queen Lili'uokalani stepped down immediately, albeit under protest. These were her words to Sanford B. Dole, head of the new provisional government:

"I, Liliiuokalani, by the grace of God and under the constitution of the Hawaiian Kingdom, Queen, do hereby solemnly protest against any and all acts done against myself and the constitutional government of the Hawaiian Kingdom by certain persons claiming to have established a Provisional Government of and for this Kingdom.

"That I yield to the superior force of the United States of America, whose Minister Plenipotentiary, His Excellency John L. Stevens, has caused United States troops to be landed at Honolulu and declared that he would support the said Provisional Government.

"Now, to avoid any collision of armed forces and perhaps loss of life, I do, under this protest, and impelled by said forces, yield my authority until such time as the Government of the United States shall, upon the facts being presented to it, undo the action of its representative and reinstate me in the authority which I claim as the constitutional sovereign of the Hawaiian Islands."

Last Hopes

The Queen surrendered, not to the revolutionaries, but to the U.S. Government which, she believed, would overturn the provisional government and restore her to her throne. The Queen retired to Washington Place to await developments.

But in the meantime, the provisional government declared martial law and raised the American flag over 'Iolani Palace. The treaty of annexation was already written, and was being rushed to Washington, D.C. via steamer. Supporters of the queen were not permitted on board, and were forced to take a later vessel. By the time they arrived, President had passed the annexation treaty on to the Senate, with his blessing.

But annexation was not popular in Washington, and Harrison was soon replaced by Grover Cleveland. Cleveland commissioned a secret investigation into the affair. Based upon its findings, he made an eloquent speech to Congress on behalf of the monarchy. Then he left the final decision to Congress. A deadlocked Congress failed to either affirm annexation or restore the monarchy.

In 1895, a group of royalists made a failed attempt to restore the monarchy. Lili'uokalani was arrested after a cache of arms was found buried in her flower garden. She was tried in her former throne room at 'Iolani Palace, which had been stripped of all decor.

Convicted of misprision of treason (having knowledge of treason and failing to report it), Lili'uokalani was fined $5,000 and sentenced to five years at hard labor. That sentence was commuted to confinement in 'Iolani Palace. She was also forced to sign an abdication decree, forfeiting any future claim to the throne. Lili'uokalani was denied all visitors, but was permitted one lady-in-waiting. They passed the time in needlework and prayer.

After 8 months, Lili'uokalani was "released" into house arrest at Washington Place, where she would remain until late 1896. Upon regaining her freedom, she traveled to Washington, D.C. to please the case of the monarchy.

But President Cleveland's term was nearly over. He was succeeded by William McKinley, who was in favor of annexation. Nevertheless, Congress defeated annexation once more in February 1898.

The Spanish-American War revealed Hawai'is strategic importance as a Pacific Ocean outpost. Pro-annexation members of Congress proposed a joint resolution which would require only a simple majority to pass. President McKinley signed the "Newlands Resolution" was signed into law on January 7, 1898, and created the Territory of Hawaii.

Formal Apology

On November 23, 1993, President William Clinton signed Public Law 103-150, "The Apology Resolution," into law.

In 1909, Queen Lili'uokalani signed a Deed of Trust, entrusting her estate to the benefit of poor and destitute Island children, with a preference for children of native Hawai'ian descent. This work continues through the Queen Lili'uokalani Children's Center.

Queen Lili'uokalani died at home, at Washington Place, on November 11, 1917. She was 79 years old.

Washington Place is now the official residence of the Governor of the State of Hawai'i.

Renewed Sovereignty

Long after Hawai'i had become the 50th State, many Hawai'ians, and many who love Hawai'i, continued to believe that, somehow, the ali'i would return one day and native rights would be restored. A Hawai'ian Sovereignty Movement has arisen to bring some of that hope into reality.