Lili'uokalani -- Hawaii's Last Queen (documentary excerpt)
Summary
TLDRQueen Liliʻuokalani, the last monarch of the Hawaiian Kingdom, was overthrown in 1893 with the aid of U.S. Marines. Her reign was marked by a deep connection to both Hawaiian and Western cultures. Despite her efforts, she was deposed and exiled, leading to the annexation of Hawaii by the United States in 1898. Her life became a symbol of the lost kingdom, and her legacy continues to resonate in Hawaiian history.
Takeaways
- 👑 Queen Liliuokalani was the last monarch of the independent Kingdom of Hawaii, which had its own flag, national anthem, and parliament.
- ⚔️ In 1893, Queen Liliuokalani was overthrown with the help of the United States Marines, causing a great loss for the Hawaiian people.
- 📜 Liliuokalani was highly educated, versed in both Western and Hawaiian cultures, and she anticipated the challenges Hawaii would face.
- 🎶 A poet and composer, Queen Liliuokalani dined at the White House and visited Buckingham Palace, though she was unprepared for the political crisis that came with her reign.
- 🌺 After her overthrow, she believed the U.S. would recognize the mistake and reinstate her, but instead, the American flag was raised over the government building.
- 📚 During her imprisonment, Liliuokalani was denied reading materials except for her prayer book. She also embroidered a quilt that recorded important events of her life.
- 📝 Liliuokalani formally abdicated the throne to save her people, marking the end of the Hawaiian monarchy and the Kingdom of Hawaii.
- 🇺🇸 In 1898, during the Spanish-American War, Hawaii was formally annexed by the United States, becoming an important strategic point in the Pacific.
- 🎗️ During the annexation ceremony, the Hawaiian flag was lowered for the last time, and pieces were given to descendants of the missionaries as tokens of victory.
- 🌋 After Queen Liliuokalani’s death in 1917, strange natural events were recorded, like volcanic eruptions and the appearance of red fish, symbolizing the end of the Hawaiian Kingdom.
Q & A
What was the significance of Queen Liliʻuokalani's reign in Hawaii?
-Queen Liliʻuokalani was the last monarch of the Kingdom of Hawaii and was beloved by her people. She was a symbol of Hawaiian culture and sovereignty, and her reign was marked by efforts to preserve the Hawaiian way of life and resist foreign influence.
How did the United States Marines contribute to the overthrow of Queen Liliʻuokalani?
-The United States Marines helped to overthrow Queen Liliʻuokalani by assisting in her removal from the throne in 1893, which was a pivotal event that led to the end of the Hawaiian monarchy and the eventual annexation of Hawaii by the United States.
What was Queen Liliʻuokalani's response to the raising of the American flag over the government building?
-Queen Liliʻuokalani expressed her distress and sadness in her diary, stating that time may wear off the feeling of injury, but she was deeply hurt to see a strange flag waving over her beloved Hawaiian flag.
Why did the Hawaiian people begin wearing hatbands that said 'Aloha' after the overthrow of the monarchy?
-The Hawaiian people wore hatbands that said 'Aloha' as a form of peaceful protest and to express their patriotism and loyalty to their queen and the Hawaiian Kingdom after it was overthrown.
What was the significance of the quilts made with the Hawaiian flag during Queen Liliʻuokalani's time?
-The quilts made with the Hawaiian flag were a form of silent protest against the banning of the flag and a way to keep the spirit of the Hawaiian Kingdom alive during a time when it was under threat.
How did Queen Liliʻuokalani spend her time during her imprisonment?
-During her imprisonment, Queen Liliʻuokalani spent her time embroidering a quilt with a record of her life, praying, and creating other pieces, reflecting her resilience and the importance she placed on preserving her culture and legacy.
What was the condition under which Queen Liliʻuokalani formally abdicated the throne?
-Queen Liliʻuokalani abdicated the throne under the threat that six of her people would be executed if she did not do so, which she did to protect her subjects.
How did the provisional government of Hawaii attempt to erase the Hawaiian Kingdom's history?
-The provisional government attempted to erase the Hawaiian Kingdom's history by renaming the palace, declaring martial law, and enforcing a blackout of news, all in an effort to suppress the Hawaiian identity and culture.
What was the significance of the annexation of Hawaii by the United States in 1898?
-The annexation of Hawaii by the United States in 1898 marked the end of the Hawaiian Kingdom and the beginning of Hawaii as a U.S. territory. It was a strategic move for the U.S. due to its location and was a significant loss for the Hawaiian people.
How did Queen Liliʻuokalani's death affect the Hawaiian people and their perception of her?
-Queen Liliʻuokalani's death was deeply mourned by the Hawaiian people, and she became an embodiment of the Kingdom and its loss. The strange events following her funeral, such as volcanic eruptions and the seas turning an odd hue, were seen by some as the elements recognizing the end of the Kingdom.
Outlines
🏰 The Overthrow of Queen Liliuokalani
The script narrates the historical account of Queen Liliuokalani, the last monarch of the Hawaiian Kingdom, who was dethroned in 1893 with the assistance of U.S. Marines. It describes the deep cultural significance of her reign and the profound impact of her removal on the Hawaiian people. The Queen, who was well-versed in both Western and Hawaiian cultures, was unprepared for the crisis that led to her exile. Despite her initial belief in a brief exile and reinstatement, she was forced to abdicate under the threat of executing six of her subjects. The narrative also touches on the Hawaiian people's peaceful protests, such as wearing hatbands and creating quilts with the banned Hawaiian flag, as a form of resistance and remembrance.
🏛️ Annexation of Hawaii and Legacy of Queen Liliuokalani
This section details the period following Queen Liliuokalani's abdication, including her release from imprisonment and the eventual annexation of Hawaii by the United States in 1898. It outlines the strategic importance of Hawaii recognized by President McKinley during the Spanish-American War and the subsequent establishment of the Republic of Hawaii with Sanford Dole as president. The script describes the emotional and symbolic events surrounding the lowering of the Hawaiian flag and the raising of the American flag over Iolani Palace. It also reflects on the Queen's later life as an American citizen and the strange occurrences following her death, which were seen by some as a sign of nature mourning the loss of the Hawaiian Kingdom.
🎶 Music and Reflection
The final paragraph consists solely of musical interludes and does not contain any spoken narrative or historical context. It serves as a reflective and emotional accompaniment to the preceding paragraphs, possibly providing a moment for the audience to contemplate the historical events and the legacy of Queen Liliuokalani.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Hawaiian Kingdom
💡Queen Liliʻuokalani
💡Overthrow
💡United States Marines
💡Provisional Government
💡Martial Law
💡Aloha
💡Hawaiian Flag
💡Annexation
💡Iolani Palace
💡Lydia Kamaka Liili
Highlights
Over a century ago, Hawaii was an independent nation with its own parliament, flag, and national anthem.
Queen Liliʻuokalani was a beloved ruler, descended from generations of chiefs revered as gods.
In 1893, Queen Liliʻuokalani was removed from her throne with the help of the United States Marines.
The Queen's removal was a significant cultural loss for the Hawaiian people.
Liliʻuokalani was well-versed in both Western and Hawaiian cultures, understanding the values of both sides.
The Queen's birth in 1838 was heralded with days of chanting, a tradition among the high Chiefs.
By the time of the Queen's reign, many of the old Hawaiian traditions had already vanished.
News of the Queen's overthrow took 10 days to reach the outside world.
On January 18th, 1893, Liliʻuokalani went into exile, believing her exile would be brief.
The American flag was raised over the government building, symbolizing the change in power.
Liliʻuokalani wrote in her diary about the injury of seeing a strange flag wave over her beloved Hawaiian flag.
Hawaiians protested the overthrow by wearing hatbands that said 'Aloha' and making quilts with the Hawaiian flag.
During her imprisonment, Liliʻuokalani was denied all reading material except for her prayer book.
The Queen formally abdicated the throne under the threat of her people's execution.
The provisional government established the Republic of Hawaii with Sanford Dole as president.
The strategic value of Hawaii was recognized during the Spanish-American War, leading to its annexation by the United States.
On August 12th, 1898, the sovereignty of the Hawaiian Islands was formally transferred to the United States.
The Hawaiian flag was lowered for the last time, marking the end of the Hawaiian Kingdom.
Liliʻuokalani lived for another 20 years as an American citizen, becoming the embodiment of the Kingdom's loss.
After the Queen's funeral, strange events such as volcanic eruptions and the seas turning red were recorded, as if nature mourned the loss of the Kingdom.
Transcripts
[Music]
just over a century ago there was an
isolated Kingdom called
Hawaii an independent nation with a
parliament its own flag a national
anthem and a beloved Queen Lio
Kalani
but in
1893 she was removed from her throne
with the help of the United States
Marines it was a great loss to her
people if you can imagine something
within your own
culture that is tremendously important
to you that is suddenly done away with
just totally ripped out and
gone if you can imagine yourself
relating to something like that that's
what we went
[Music]
through Lilo Kalani was descended from
generations of chiefs revered by the
Hawaiians as
Gods she had been educated by Americans
a poet and composer she dined at the
White House was a guest at Buckingham
Palace but nothing had prepared her for
the crisis she would face as Queen Liu
was well vered in the western culture
well versed in the Hawaiian culture and
knew the values of both sides uh knew
knew the inevitable of what was going to
happen to
[Music]
Hawaii when Liu was born in 1838
the chanting lasted for
[Music]
days it was the way to Herald new
arrivals among the alii the high Chiefs
of the
islands but by this time many of the old
ways had already
[Music]
vanished it would take 10 days for news
of the Queen's overthrow to reach the
outside
world
[Music]
on January 18th
1893 the day after she surrendered Lily
uok Kalani Went for a Ride in her
[Music]
carriage on her way back she told her
driver not to turn into the palace but
instead to take her to her private
residence Washington Place
[Music]
she firmly believed her Exile would be
brief that the United States would
recognize the error and she would be
reinstated on February 1st Minister
Stevens ceremonially raised the American
flag over the government
building Lily U Kalani wrote in her
diary time May wear off the feeling of
injury but my dear flag the Hawaiian
flag that a strange flag should wave
over it may heaven look down on these
missionaries and punish them for their
deeds the palace was renamed the
executive building martial law was
declared and would be enforced by the
ragtag army of the provisional
government there was a blackening out of
things uh of
news but our people were able to find a
means of protest because they were told
by their leader their Queen not to take
up arms they began wearing hatbands that
said Aloha that meant patriotism they
began to make quilts that had the hne
flag because the hne flag had been
banned here she was denied all reading
material except for her prayer
[Music]
book during this time she osed a number
of pieces including the Queen's
[Music]
prayer fearing that she would die a
prisoner Lilo Kalani embroidered a quilt
with a record of her
[Music]
life Lydia kamaka liili
Kalani ascended the throne January 29th
1891 dethroned January 17th
1893 imprisoned at yolani Palace we
began this quilt
there it was during her imprisonment
that she would formally abdicate the
throne under the threat that uh six of
her people will be executed she signs a
document that is not only an abdication
for herself but um a statement that the
monarchy itself is over that the kingdom
is no
[Music]
more the news strikes the Hawaiian
people with great
force because to them she was still
Queen on September 6th 1895 5 after 8
months imprisonment Lilo colani was
released on parole to Washington Place
it would take another two years before
her civil rights were fully
restored the provisional government had
established the Republic of Hawaii with
Sanford Dole as president but they had
still not succeeded in their ultimate
goal annexation to the United
States in 1898 when the Spanish-American
war broke out americ am troops headed to
the
Philippines President McKinley
recognized the Strategic value of Hawaii
and supported a congressional resolution
for
[Music]
annexation on August 12th 1898 in a
grand Ceremony President Dole formerly
yielded the sovereignty and public
property of the Hawaiian Islands to the
United
States the Stars and Stripes was slowly
raised over Iolani
Palace and the Hawaiian flag was brought
down for the last
[Music]
time but few Hawaiians would witness the
ceremony most spent the day at home
Behind Closed
blinds on the actual day of
annexation the queen shuttered herself
at Washington Place surrounded by her
Court by the princes by her ladies in
waiting and they had a solemn picture
taken on the other side at yulani Palace
there were Sharp Shooters pointed out
there was still tension in the air that
something might happen but when the
Hawaiian flag was lowered it was said
that it was cut into small little 2 to 3
in ribbons and given out as tokens of
remembrance
to the Sons and Daughters of the
missionary
families so that they could keep
those as little tokens of their great
victory over the Hawaiian Kingdom and
the end of the tyranny of the Hawaiian
monarchy Lilo Kalani would live for
another 20 years as an American citizen
in the United States territory of
Hawaii by the time of her death at the
age of
79 she had become the embodiment of the
Kingdom
itself and of its
loss for weeks after her funeral strange
events were recorded in the
islands volcanoes erupted and the Seas
turned an odd Hue from the sudden
appearance of a multitude of red
fish it was as if the elements
recognized that the kingdom was no
[Music]
more
[Applause]
[Music]
oh
[Music]
oh
[Music]
oh
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