Liliuokalani

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1838 — 1917

royaume d'Hawaï

PoliticsMonarquePolitique19th Century

Conquêtes coloniales Droits de l'Homme

Émotions disponibles (6)

Neutre

par défaut

Inspirée

Pensive

Surprise

Triste

Fière

Key Facts

Works & Achievements

Aloha Oe (1878)

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.

Hawaii's Story by Hawaii's Queen (memoirs) (1898)

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.

Translation and annotation of the Kumulipo (1895-1897)

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.

He Mele Lāhui Hawaiʻi (national anthem) (1866)

A patriotic anthem composed by Liliuokalani even before she ascended to the throne, which became a symbol of Hawaiian identity and pride.

Corpus of 150 musical compositions (1860-1915)

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.

Official protest against annexation (1893-1897)

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

Hawaii's Story by Hawaii's Queen (1898)

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.

Official protest upon abdication (January 17, 1893)

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.

Petition against annexation presented to the United States Congress (1897)

We, the undersigned, native Hawaiian citizens and residents, respectfully request that the Congress of the United States not ratify the proposed treaty of annexation.

Letter to her sister Likelike on the composition of 'Aloha Oe' (1878)

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

Iolani Palace, Honolulu

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.

Washington Place, Honolulu

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.

Manoa Valley, Oahu

Lush valley above Honolulu where Liliuokalani owned land and loved to retreat. This rainy, mountainous landscape inspired several of her musical compositions.

Washington D.C., United States

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.

Island of Hawaii (Big Island)

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.

Typical Objects

Ukulele

Iconic Hawaiian musical instrument that Liliuokalani mastered completely. She played it during her compositions and helped popularize Hawaiian music among foreign visitors.

Lei (flower garland)

Crown or garland of fresh flowers, a symbol of Hawaiian hospitality and royalty. Liliuokalani wore them during official ceremonies, perpetuating the cultural traditions of her people.

Kahili feather standard

Hawaiian ceremonial scepter made of rare bird feathers mounted on a long staff, an emblem of Polynesian royalty. These objects adorned the throne room of Iolani Palace during royal audiences.

Hawaiian Bible

Liliuokalani was deeply Christian and leaned on her faith during her trials. She used her Bible during her captivity and translated spiritual texts into Hawaiian from her cell in the palace.

Handwritten musical score

Liliuokalani composed more than 150 songs and hymns throughout her life. Her handwritten scores, preserved in the Hawaii State Archives, bear witness to her musical mastery and her attachment to Hawaiian culture.

Royal seal of the Kingdom of Hawaii

Official seal bearing the arms of the Kingdom of Hawaii, used to authenticate royal documents. Liliuokalani used it until the moment of her forced abdication in 1893.

School Curriculum

LycéeHistoire

Vocabulary & Tags

Key Vocabulary

Daily Life

Morning

Liliuokalani began her day with Christian prayers, faithful to her education at the Royal School in Honolulu. She would then walk through the gardens of Washington Place or Iolani Palace, inspecting her favorite tropical flowers — plumeria and hibiscus — before receiving the first official delegations of the day.

Afternoon

The afternoon was devoted to royal audiences, drafting diplomatic correspondence, and overseeing the administration of the kingdom. She paid particular attention to Hawaiian land files and to matters concerning the welfare of native Hawaiian families dispossessed by the large sugar landowners.

Evening

In the evenings, Liliuokalani gathered with musicians, poets, and members of the court to practice traditional Hawaiian music. She would compose melodies on the ukulele or piano, jot down her musical inspirations, and foster the cultural exchanges that were deeply close to her heart.

Food

The royal Hawaiian diet of the era blended Polynesian traditions with Western influences. Poi (fermented taro paste), fresh fish, and tropical fruits (papaya, mango, coconut) sat alongside meats and European culinary preparations introduced by missionaries and American merchants.

Clothing

Liliuokalani wore Victorian dresses of silk and satin in dark colors (black, burgundy, purple) for official ceremonies, in keeping with the royal fashion of the time. For Hawaiian cultural events, she donned feather adornments (lei hulu), floral crowns, and traditional printed tapa cloth garments.

Housing

Liliuokalani officially resided at Iolani Palace, a grand residence built in 1882 in the American Renaissance Revival style, equipped with electricity and telephone — even before the White House. Her private residence, Washington Place, was a colonial villa surrounded by a lush tropical garden, where she took refuge after her overthrow.

Historical Timeline

1838Naissance de Liliuokalani à Honolulu, dans la famille royale hawaïenne

1848Grand Mahele : partage des terres à Hawaii, début de la dépossession des Hawaïens natifs

1875Traité de réciprocité entre Hawaii et les États-Unis : essor du sucre, afflux de planteurs américains

1878Liliuokalani compose 'Aloha Oe', chanson qui deviendra le symbole de Hawaii

1887Constitution dite 'de la Baïonnette' imposée au roi Kalakaua, réduisant drastiquement les pouvoirs royaux

1891Mort de son frère le roi Kalakaua ; Liliuokalani monte sur le trône, première reine régnante de Hawaii

1893Coup d'État de janvier : des businessmen américains, appuyés par des Marines, renversent la monarchie hawaïenne

1893Le président américain Grover Cleveland reconnaît l'illégalité du renversement mais le Congrès refuse de rétablir la reine

1895Tentative de contre-révolution royaliste échouée ; Liliuokalani est arrêtée et assignée à résidence

1896Liliuokalani est libérée ; elle part pour les États-Unis pour plaider sa cause

1897Pétition de 21 000 Hawaïens contre l'annexion remise au Congrès américain

1898Annexion de Hawaii par les États-Unis pendant la guerre hispano-américaine ; publication de ses mémoires

1900Hawaii devient un territoire américain ; Liliuokalani obtient une compensation financière partielle

1917Mort de Liliuokalani à Honolulu, à 79 ans, sans avoir vu la restauration de la souveraineté hawaïenne

Period Vocabulary

Aliʻi — Hawaiian term referring to the nobility and royal family. The aliʻi were the hereditary chiefs of Hawaii, whose rank was determined by genealogy and the sacredness of their lineage.

Mahele — Sharing or division of lands in Hawaiian. The Great Mahele of 1848 was a land reform imposed under Western influence that transformed communal lands into private property, allowing foreigners to purchase Hawaiian lands.

Haole — Hawaiian term referring to foreigners, particularly white people of American or European origin. In the 19th century, haole became the primary owners of sugar plantations and exerted growing political influence.

Mana — A fundamental Polynesian concept referring to spiritual power, sacred authority, and prestige. Liliuokalani's royal mana conferred upon her religious and political legitimacy in the eyes of the Hawaiian people.

Annexation — The act by which a state incorporates a territory under its sovereignty. The annexation of Hawaii by the United States in 1898 was the result of a joint resolution of Congress, following the failure of a formal treaty in the face of the Hawaiian petition.

Provisional Government — A temporary political regime established following the overthrow of a legitimate government. After the coup of 1893, a provisional government controlled by American businessmen replaced the Hawaiian monarchy before proclaiming the Republic of Hawaii.

Republic of Hawaii — The political regime that succeeded the Hawaiian monarchy from 1894 to 1898. Led by Sanford Dole, this republic was created by American revolutionaries with the aim of achieving annexation by the United States.

Oli — Traditional Hawaiian chant performed without musical accompaniment, used in religious, royal, and commemorative ceremonies. Oli perpetuated Polynesian genealogy, history, and cosmogony through oral tradition.

Hula — A sacred and ritual Hawaiian dance accompanied by chants and music. Banned by Christian missionaries in the 19th century, hula was restored by King Kalakaua and his sister Liliuokalani as an expression of cultural resistance.

Reciprocity Treaty — A trade agreement signed in 1875 between Hawaii and the United States, allowing the export of Hawaiian sugar duty-free. This treaty greatly enriched American planters in Hawaii and strengthened their political grip on the kingdom.

Bayonet Constitution — The nickname for the constitution imposed on King Kalakaua in 1887 under armed threat, which drastically curtailed royal powers and favored the interests of white landowners. Liliuokalani attempted to replace it with a new constitution in 1893, which served as a pretext for her overthrow.

Gallery

Ulysses S. Grant

Liliuokalani, painting by William Cogswell, Iolani Palace

Composite portrait of 17 members of Hawaiian royalty and notables, by J. J. Williams

Liliuokalani, painting by William Cogswell, Iolani Palace (PP-98-11-007)

Hawaii album, p. 4, portraits of the Hawaiian royal family and others

Liliuokalani, photograph by Prince, of Washington

Liliuokalani, c. 1891

Liliuokalani on her trip to the Golden Jubilee, 1887. Bishop Museum Archives. Image number SP 117005

Kapiolani and Liliuokalani in a carriage on trip to Golden Jubilee, 1887. Bishop Museum Archives. Image number SP 54041

Kapiolani, Liliuokalani and party arriving in San Francisco, 1887. Bishop Museum Archives. Image number SP 54045

Visual Style

Mélange de la solennité victorienne et de la royauté polynésienne : portraits d'apparat, parures de plumes, drapés de soie sombre et décor tropical luxuriant du palais Iolani.

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AI Prompt

Late 19th century Hawaiian royalty visual style: oil portraits in Victorian formal tradition combined with Pacific Islander regalia, rich tropical colors of deep ocean blue, volcanic black, lush emerald green and golden yellow — the colors of Hawaiian nature. Liliuokalani dressed in formal Victorian gowns of deep purple and black silk, adorned with traditional feathered kahili scepters and fresh flower leis. The architectural setting of Iolani Palace blends American Florentine Renaissance with tropical Hawaiian elements: ornate ironwork, koa wood interiors, portraits in gilded frames, ceremonial objects of feathers and bone. Lighting warm and golden like Hawaiian afternoon sun filtering through louvered shutters.

Sound Ambience

Ambiance du palais royal Iolani à Honolulu : musique hawaïenne traditionnelle, vagues du Pacifique, brise tropicale et chants cérémoniels polynésiens.

AI Prompt

Hawaiian royal court ambiance in the late 19th century: gentle ukulele melodies and slack-key guitar drifting through open palace windows, ocean waves breaking on coral reefs nearby, rustling of tropical palm trees and fragrant plumeria blossoms in the warm Pacific breeze, distant chanting of traditional Hawaiian oli prayers, the sound of bare feet on polished koa wood floors, birds singing in the surrounding gardens — mynah birds and endangered native honeycreepers — occasional carriage wheels on cobblestones outside Iolani Palace, servants softly arranging fresh leis of pikake and tuberose

Portrait Source

Wikimedia Commons — domaine public — 1880