Analysis of Hawaii’s Story by Liliuokalani

The author of Hawaii’s Story was Liliuokalani — a Hawaii queen. Hawaii’s Story recorded her personal life and the history she experienced in Hawaii. Liliuokalani was born in 1838 as one of royal but was adopted by another chief after. Liliuokalani was well-educated and gifted, she wrote many songs including a beautiful song named 'Aloha Oe' which later turn as one of Hawaii’s national anthem. She married John Owen Dominis who was not a Hawaiian. They did not have any child between them but had few adopted ones. She belonged to the peaceful life until her brother died in 1891, she had to take on the heavy responsibility to take care of her own country and people, she became to the first queen of the Hawaii Kingdom.

Ruling a country is never easy, not mention, during her brother — David Kalakaua’s ruling, the royal household had already lost much authority because of the Bayonet Constitution. The Bayonet Constitution was the first of the strategy of overthrowing the Hawaii Kingdom, it caused the increasing the power of European subjects and also greatly reduced the power of the monarch. Therefore, during Liliuokalani’s reign, she knew she needs to restore her royal authority, so she decides to abolish the old constitution or create a “new constitution” in order to give back more power to the locals instead of other immigrants. This new revolution gained great support from Hawaiians, however, she was strongly opposed by the American government because of her new constitution would take the right away from the non-citizen including those who came from America. Unfortunately, not only Liliuokalani’s “Hawaii saving plan” did not help her taking her throne back but also caused a wave of greater anger from the non-citizen. Ironically, she was identified as a criminal for protecting her people. Finally, in January of 1893, Liliuokalani, the first Hawaii queen descends to the last Hawaii queen when American Marine overthrew the Kingdom of Hawaii. America wanted to annex these islands to America. Of course, as a Hawaii queen, Liliuokalani wanted her kingdom to come back to her again, she asked for reinstatement. But the history did not go on the way she wanted.

The Republic of Hawaii was formally built in 1894. The establishing of the Republic of Hawaii showed that Liliuokalani would have no more chances to be reinstated. As a failure of a Movement to help restore Liliuokalani and Liliuokalani was impeached for treason in 1895 in her own country. She was prisoned in the Iolani Palace where is her own palace. Desperate Liliuokalani signed the abdication for safety. In January of 1895, the monarchy of Hawaii Kingdom was formally abolished. However, Liliuokalani still did not want to abandon her kingdom, she tried to persuade the then president to reinstate her position, the result was known that Liliuokalani was never able to take her kingdom back. With a great heart-break of Liliuokalani, Hawaii was annexed to America in July in 1898 which is the same year of the book — Hawaii’s story was published. And Liliuokalani passed away as an American citizen on the 11th of November in 1917 under the ruling of America.

Works Cited

1. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawaii's_Story
2. http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Queen_Liliuokalani
3. Liluokalani. Hawaii’s Story. Mutual Publishing.1990