Liliuokalani was the last queen of the Kingdom of Hawaii, overthrown in 1893 by a coup supported by American settlers. A composer and stateswoman, she fought peacefully for Hawaiian sovereignty and remains a symbol of resistance to American imperialism.
Liliuokalani(1838 — 1917)
Liliuokalani
royaume d'Hawaï
8 min read
Frequently asked questions
Famous Quotes
« Ua Mau ke Ea o ka Aina i ka Pono. (The life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness.)»
« I yield to all that is just and fair.»
Key Facts
- Born in 1838 in Honolulu, she received a Western education at the Royal School of Hawaii.
- Ascended to the throne in 1891 following the death of her brother, King Kalakaua.
- Overthrown in January 1893 in a coup organized by American businessmen backed by United States Marines.
- Placed under house arrest in 1895 after a failed royalist uprising, she formally abdicated under duress.
- Hawaii was annexed by the United States in 1898; she spent her final years fruitlessly defending the Hawaiian cause in Washington.
Works & Achievements
Liliuokalani's most famous song, which became the unofficial anthem of Hawaii. This melancholic melody about separation and love is now known worldwide as a symbol of Hawaiian culture.
An autobiographical account in which Liliuokalani tells the history of the Kingdom of Hawaii and denounces the illegal circumstances of her overthrow. This book is a major historical source on the end of the Hawaiian monarchy.
An English translation of the ancient Hawaiian cosmogony, a creation poem of 2,000 verses. Completed largely during her house arrest, this work helped preserve Hawaiian cultural heritage.
A patriotic anthem composed by Liliuokalani even before she ascended to the throne, which became a symbol of Hawaiian identity and pride.
A collection of songs, hymns, and instrumental pieces composed throughout her lifetime. This corpus, preserved in the Hawaii State Archives, illustrates the richness of the Hawaiian musical tradition.
A series of official documents, letters, and petitions addressed to the American government denouncing the illegality of the overthrow. These texts stand as essential legal and political testimonies on Hawaiian sovereignty.
Anecdotes
Liliuokalani is the author of the famous Hawaiian song 'Aloha Oe' (1878), which became a symbol of Hawaiian culture worldwide. She is said to have composed this melody after observing a romantic farewell scene during a horseback ride on the island of Oahu.
In January 1893, a group of wealthy American planters, supported by American Marines who had landed illegally, overthrew Liliuokalani. She abdicated to prevent bloodshed, declaring that she was yielding not to these men, but to the United States, hoping that the American government would restore justice.
After the overthrow of the monarchy, Liliuokalani was placed under house arrest in her own palace, Iolani Palace, for eight months in 1895. During her captivity, she composed religious hymns and worked on translating the Hawaiian cosmogony, the Kumulipo.
In 1897, Liliuokalani traveled to Washington to submit a petition to the United States Congress against the annexation of Hawaii. More than 21,000 native Hawaiians — out of a population of approximately 40,000 — signed this petition, which temporarily helped block the annexation treaty.
Until her death in 1917, Liliuokalani continued to legally assert her rights and those of the Hawaiian people. She bequeathed her assets to a charitable foundation for orphaned or needy Hawaiian children, the Queen Liliuokalani Children's Center, which still exists today.
Primary Sources
I, Liliuokalani, 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.
I yield, under constraint, to the superior force of the United States of America, whose minister plenipotentiary [...] has caused the overthrow of the constitutional government of the Hawaiian Kingdom. [...] I do so under duress, to avoid any armed conflict.
We, the undersigned, native Hawaiian citizens and residents, respectfully request that the Congress of the United States not ratify the proposed treaty of annexation.
The melody came to me naturally, as if carried by the wind from the hills. I wanted to capture that feeling of love and parting that lies at the heart of our people.
Key Places
Royal palace built in 1882, official residence of Liliuokalani and seat of the Hawaiian government. It was here that she was forced to abdicate in 1893, then placed under house arrest in her own apartments two years later.
Private residence of Liliuokalani, where she lived before and after her reign. Following her overthrow, she spent the final years of her life there, which remained a quiet rallying point for supporters of the monarchy.
Lush valley above Honolulu where Liliuokalani owned land and loved to retreat. This rainy, mountainous landscape inspired several of her musical compositions.
Liliuokalani traveled there on several occasions to plead her cause before the American government, notably in 1897 with the petition against annexation. She died there largely met with official indifference despite her efforts.
The largest island where Liliuokalani owned estates and where she stayed during official visits. It was during a journey across these lands that the inspiration for some of her musical works was born.
Liens externes & ressources
Références
Œuvres
Aloha Oe
1878
Hawaii's Story by Hawaii's Queen (mémoires)
1898
Traduction et annotation du Kumulipo
1895-1897
He Mele Lāhui Hawaiʻi (hymne national)
1866
Corpus de 150 compositions musicales
1860-1915
Protestation officielle contre l'annexion
1893-1897
