125th anniversary of the overthrow of the Kingdom of Hawaii

The 125th anniversary of the overthrow of the Kingdom of Hawaii was marked by a march of thousands of people from Mauna Ala (the Hawaiian Royal Mausoleum) to the Iolani Palace to commemorate Liliʻuokalani's forced removal from the throne and raise the Hawaiian Kingdom Flag at the exact moment it was lowered in 1893.[1]

History and background

1893

On July 6, 1846, U.S. Secretary of State John C. Calhoun, on behalf of President Tyler, afforded formal recognition of Hawaiian independence under the reign of Kamehameha III.[2] As a result of the recognition of Hawaiian independence, the Hawaiian Kingdom entered into treaties with the major nations of the world[3] and established over ninety legations and consulates in multiple seaports and cities.[4] The Kamehameha Dynasty was the reigning monarchy of the Kingdom of Hawaii, beginning with its founding by Kamehameha I in 1795, until the death of Kamehameha V in 1872 and Lunalilo in 1874.[5][6] The kingdom would continue under the House of Kalākaua for another 21 years until its overthrow in 1893 when a coup d'état against Queen Liliuokalani was supported by U.S. Marines.[7]

1993

The Bruce Asato image from the January 17, 1993 march as it appeared on the cover of the Honolulu Advertiser

On January 17, 1993 a march was held from the Aloha Tower to the Iolani Palace to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the event. The march of 15,000[8][9] people was lead by the Ka Lāhui and was part of the ʻOnipaʻa, an observance of the queen's overthrow.[10] The 1993 observance took its name from Queen Liliuokalani's motto, "ʻOnipaʻa" (to remain steadfast). 20,000 people are estimated to have met at the palace for a series of events that included a re-enactment of the overthrow and speeches from activists and educators like Haunani-Kay Trask who said; "We are not Americans! We are not Americans! We will die as Hawiians! We will never be American!" Trask and others from the University of Hawaii at Manoa worked closely with film-makers Puhipau and John Lander of the production company Nā Maka o ka 'Āina to create the film; "Act of War:The overthrow of the Hawaiian Nation". The film helped bring the findings of Hawaiian historians like Trask, Jonathan Kamakawiwo'ole Osorio and Lilikalā Kameʻeleihiwa to a larger and broader audience. In 1993, Trask also released her well known book; "From a Native Daughter: Colonialism and Sovereignty in Hawaii" that dealt with such topics as corporate tourism, academic exploitation, suppression of Native epistemology and histories as well as the high number of ancient sites including burials that have been destroyed [11] An iconic image from the cover of her book shows the 1993 march as it neared the palace. The book's cover photo was taken by photographer Ed Greevy however, Honolulu-Star Advertiser photographer Bruce Asato also captured the moment and appeared on the front page of the newspaper. Both image depict the organizers of the march stopping to allow elders to enter the grounds of the palace first.[12]

Marking the 122nd anniversary of the overthrow, activists organized the "Queen Liliuokalani Kingdom Restoration Spiritual Walk" in 2015, beginning the march from Mauna Ala (the Royal Mausoleum) down to the Iolani Palace, to Liliuokalani's statue and then to the capital rotunda. Organizer's concerns included crown lands being sold illegally, the desecration of sacred grounds and the moving of ancient burials for the ongoing rail project.[13]

2018 march and commemoration

Preparation

When a false nuclear ballistic missile alert went off 4 days before the event, one of the organizers, Kaukaohu Wahilani, mentioned how the US military is linked to colonialism; "It was only through the might of the American military that the overthrow was successful".[14] The event, ʻOnipaʻa Kākou, made a solemn day a memorable event featuring a rally after the march with speeches and hula and ceremonial protocols and prayers.[15] Beginning one week before the event, Hinaleimoana Wong began holding the Mana Ka Lahui Mele Workshops for the community to learn songs being used during the day.[16] University of Hawaii at Manoa students participated and helped print specially designed T-shirts created by Tita Coloma just for the day.[17]

March

Image of Queen Liliʻuokalani carried in 125th anniversary march from Mauna Ala to the Iolani Palace.[18]

The full event began with protocol observances at Mauna Ala with a march to the palace for the flag raising and then to the statue of Queen Liliʻuokalani where ceremonial offerings were made.[16] The crowd entered through the main gates of the palace grounds as oli (chants) were performed and participants carried torches, Hawaiian flags and two purple Kāhili which were carried alongside a marcher carrying Queen Liliuokalani's portrait.[18]

References

  1. ↑ CRAIG T. KOJIMA (January 17, 2018). "www.staradvertiser.com". Honolulu Star Advertiser. Retrieved 2018-01-18.
  2. ↑ United States. Dept. of State (1895). Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States. U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 12.
  3. ↑ United States. Congress. House. Committee on Education and Labor. Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity (1977). Economic Opportunity Act of 1964, Amendments of 1977: Hearings Before the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity of the Committee on Education and Labor, House of Representatives, Ninety-fifth Congress, First Session, on H.R. 7577... U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 92.
  4. ↑ "Historical Collections of The Hawaiian Islands - Treaties, Conventions, and International Agreements of the Kingdom of Hawai'i". usgwarchives.net. usgwarchives.net. Retrieved December 30, 2014.
  5. ↑ Margaret Homans; Adrienne Munich (October 2, 1997). Remaking Queen Victoria. Cambridge University Press. pp. 147–. ISBN 978-0-521-57485-3.
  6. ↑ Wikipedians. The United States of America. PediaPress. pp. 451–. GGKEY:2CYQCESKTB7.
  7. ↑ Julia Flynn Siler (January 2012). Lost Kingdom: Hawaii's Last Queen, the Sugar Kings and America's First Imperial Adventure. Atlantic Monthly Press. pp. 220–. ISBN 978-0-8021-2001-4.
  8. ↑ Haunani-Kay Trask (1 May 1993). From a native daughter: colonialism and sovereignty in Hawai'i. Common Courage Press. p. 100. ISBN 978-1-56751-009-6.
  9. ↑ Ty P. Kāwika Tengan (29 September 2008). Native Men Remade: Gender and Nation in Contemporary Hawai‘i. Duke University Press. p. 64. ISBN 0-8223-8937-1.
  10. ↑ University of Hawaii at Hilo. Dept. of Geography (1998). Atlas of Hawai'i. University of Hawaii Press. p. 182. ISBN 978-0-8248-2125-8.
  11. ↑ Noelani Goodyear-Ka’opua; Ikaika Hussey; Erin Kahunawaika'ala Wright (27 August 2014). A Nation Rising: Hawaiian Movements for Life, Land, and Sovereignty. Duke University Press. pp. 39–40. ISBN 978-0-8223-7655-2.
  12. ↑ Timothy Hurly (January 8, 2018). "Remembering the Overthrow". Honolulu-Star Advertiser. Retrieved 2018-01-19.
  13. ↑ "Hawaiian activists rally on anniversary of kingdom's overthrow | KHON2". Retrieved 2018-01-18.
  14. ↑ Anita Hofschneider (January 16, 2018). "Missile Scare Motivates Activists Who Fear Military's Presence". Honolulu Civil Beat. Retrieved 2018-01-18.
  15. ↑ Jenn Boneza (January 17, 2018). "Ceremony marks 125 years since overthrow of Kingdom of Hawaii | KHON2". Nexstar Broadcasting, Inc. Retrieved 2018-01-18.
  16. 1 2 Staff writer (January 17, 2018). "125th anniversary marks overthrow - The Garden Island". The Garden Island. Retrieved 2018-01-18.
  17. ↑ Moanike'ala Nabarro (January 16, 2018). "Thousands prepare ahead of overthrow's 125th anniversary - Honolulu, Hawaii news, sports & weather - KITV Channel 4". KITV4 Island News. Retrieved 2018-01-18.
  18. 1 2 Dillon Ancheta (January 17, 2018). "125 years later, overthrow of Hawaii's last monarch marked with - Hawaii News Now - KGMB and KHNL". Hawaii News Now. Retrieved 2018-01-18.
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