Maine To Oahu: Iolani Palace

Another thing on our Summer in Hawaii Bucketlist was to go see Iolani Palace. There's quite a rich history and its very interesting to learn about King Kalakaua. He was the first King to leave the island I believe. He took 8 months to travel around the world meeting with other leaders. He began to model dress, housing, etc after the British Monarchy. When he had Iolani Palace built, he spared no expense. Having materials shipped in from all over the world. He upgraded the gas lights to the newest technology, electric. He had the fanciest indoor plumbing with shower heads and flush toilets put in! And having met Alexander Graham Bell, he had a phone installed so he could call downstairs from his office.

His successor, his sister, Queen Liliuokalani had a much more turbulent rein. Shortly after inheriting the throne from her brother, she moved to abrogate the 1887 Bayonet Constitution and draft a new constitution which would restore Veto power to the Monarchy and voting rights to the economically disenfranchised native Hawaiians and Asians.

There's a whole lotta stuff that's wrapped up in that, but lets just put it this way.... the Americans didn't like that idea. It was bad for them and bad for their business. So they came in and arrested her. To avoid military clash and loss of life, she went willingly and temporarily relinquished her authority, hoping it would be restored.

Another sad piece of information is that as the US moved in, they turned the palace into their military headquarters. Furniture was rearranged, moved, gotten rid of and sold. The palace became a museum in 1978 and It is a still ongoing, intricate and painstaking effort to regain, restore or replicate all that was lost.

In 1895 there was a failed counter-revolution where guns were found at the base of Diamond Head. She claimed she knew nothing. They tried her and sentenced her to 5 years hard labor in prison and a $5,000 fine. The did not make her do the hard labor and instead, imprisoned her in corner room in what was once her own palace. The room was stripped bare and there she sat. She composed many songs there. And despite it all, remained strong in her faith.

In 1898 Hawaii became an incorporated territory of the United States.

Upon her release she had a year of house arrest. She simply continued to write in protest. She later traveled to the United States a few times to continue protesting and requesting the reinstatement of the Hawaiian Nation. She filed claims against the US for lost property. She brought lawsuits against the US under the 5th amendment seeking compensation for the loss of the Crown Land. All were unsuccessful.

I love learning. At the same time it does make my heart sad to think about this and other instances of how my nations forefathers acquired the land in which we live and play. And I think about how we're not alone. I think about how, throughout history, this is how land, property, kingdoms were established... by force, by taking. And there are lots of thoughts and emotions still bouncing all around in this brain of mine that I'm not sure will ever be fully sorted out.

For now, I will resolve to learn for myself and to teach my children the raw truths of history. So that people and cultures and nations are remembered and honored. And also, so that history can be our teacher and our guide for how we want to live now.