Illegal overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom
Jan. 17, 1893
Bluejackets of the U.S.S. Boston occupying Arlington Hotel grounds during overthrow of Queen Liliuokalani. Commander Lucien Young, U.S.N. in command of troops. Site of childhood home of Queen Liliuokalani. January 1893. Hawaii State Archives.
The Hawaiian Kingdom on this day in 1893 was overthrown in a coup d'état against Queen Liliʻuokalani on Oahu. The insurgents established the Republic of Hawai'i and eventually achieved their goal of the annexation of Hawai'i by the United States in 1898. The coup was led by seven foreign residents (five Americans, one Scotsman, and one German) and six Hawaiian Kingdom subjects of American descent in Honolulu.
Prior to this coup, in 1887 a rebellion had forced Kalākaua to sign what became known as the 'Bayonet Constitution' in which he had relinquished much of his powers under threat. The constitution disenfranchised two-thirds of the native Hawaiians, as well as other ethnic groups who had previously held the right to vote, establishing a new provision requiring candidates and voters to own property valued at no less than three thousand dollars. Kalākaua passed away in 1891 and his sister Liliʻuokalani took the throne, attempting to rewrite the constitution to re-establish the threatened Hawaiian sovereignty. This was used as a pretext for the coup.
Prior to this coup, in 1887 a rebellion had forced Kalākaua to sign what became known as the 'Bayonet Constitution' in which he had relinquished much of his powers under threat. The constitution disenfranchised two-thirds of the native Hawaiians, as well as other ethnic groups who had previously held the right to vote, establishing a new provision requiring candidates and voters to own property valued at no less than three thousand dollars. Kalākaua passed away in 1891 and his sister Liliʻuokalani took the throne, attempting to rewrite the constitution to re-establish the threatened Hawaiian sovereignty. This was used as a pretext for the coup.