Hawaiian Queen Liliuokalani

Hawaiian Queen Liliuokalani Part 1

Hawaiian Queen Liliuokalani, was born on September 2, 1838 as Lydia Lili’u Kamaka’eha. She was adopted at birth by Abner Paki and his wife, Laura Konia who was King Kamehamehas the Firsts granddaughter. From age four she went to the Royal school where she became fluent in English as well as her native language.

In 1862 she married John Owen Dominis, who became governor of Maui and Oahu. They had no children.

Lili'u was named heir apparent in 1877. Her brother, King Kalaukaua thought that her name didn't sound royal enough and insisted that she change her name to Lili’uokalani. (okalani means, “from the heavens”)

Lydia Liliu was a very strong willed woman, who believed in the sovereignty of her nation, and she wanted what was best for Hawaii. She loved her people, and after changing her name to Lilioukalani, her brother, King Kalaukaua appointed her Hawaiian Queen.

Several months later her husband died.

In 1892, she tried to enforce a new Constitution to restore power to Hawaiian Royalty. This made the Annexation Club very nervous, and they wanted to have her arrested for treason. However, they couldn't actually have her arrested because she really hadn't committed any crime. A year later, Lili'uokalani was still trying to enforce her new Constitution. In order to create a new Constitution, a constitutional convention was needed. But, the American legislature wanted the power themselves, and did not want her to be in control. The legislature defeated the bill for a constitutional convention and Liliuoklani wasn't able to change the Constitution.

Around 1892 The Annexation Club changed their name to The Committee of Safety. They changed it because “The Committee of Safety” sounded better....it made it seem like the opposite of what their real intentions were. None of the Hawaiian people wanted to be annexed to the United States.

About this time, Lili’uokalani formed a new group called The Committee of Law and Order.

January 16,1896 was a very busy day.... the situation was getting very serious. Liliuokalani knew that if she continued to try to change the constitution, people would be killed, and there would be military force. Lili’uokalani's main concern was to keep her people safe. So she signed a statement saying that she would not try to make a new constitution. Then, she sent the letter to John Stevens, the American minister of foreign affairs.

That same day, The Committee of Safety had a meeting. There were between 1,200 and 1,500 people at the meeting, almost all were white men. They accused the Queen of going against the constitution, and they called for a new government.

Also on that day, January 16, Hawaiian Queen Liliuokalani and The Committee of Law and Order had a meeting, and 500 to 1000 people who attended. They were all Hawaiian.

Captain Cook Part I

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