Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 2, 1 March 1982 — The Overthrow of the Hawaiian Monarchy (An overview) [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

The Overthrow of the Hawaiian Monarchy (An overview)

In 1893, Hawai'i was a constitutional monarchy, a sovereign nation recognized by other nations. A treaty of trade reciprocity with the United States had been in effect since 1875 and an earlier friendship treaty between the two nations had been signed in 1849. On January 14, 1893, Queen Lili'uokalani, Hawai'i's monarch, planned to proelaim a new constitution. There was opposition to the Queen's plan among some segments of the community and in downtown Honolulu, a group of men met and decided to form a 13 member Committee of Public Safety to take further action. The Committee, 12 of whom belonged to the Annexation Club, an organization established in 1892 to seek union with the United States, passed a motion proposing the abolition of the monarchy and annexation to the United States. That night, members of the Committee met and drafted documents for the formation of a provisional government. On Monday, January 16th, the Committee again met and drafted a letter to John L. Stevens, the U.S. Minister to Hawai'i, requesting the landing of Ameriean troops from the U.S.S. Boston stationed in Honolulu harbor at the time.

The letter stated: We, the undersigned, citizens and residents of Honolulu, respectfully represent that, in uiew of recent publie euents in this kingdom, culminating in the reuolutionary acts of Queen Lili'uokalani on Saturday last, the public safety is menaced and lives and property are in peril, and we appeal to you and the United States forces at your command for assistance . . . We are unable to protect ourselues without aid, and, therefore, pray /or the protection of the United States forces. Around 3 p.m. of the same day, Minister Stevens requested Capt. G.C. Wiltse of the Boston to land troops "as a precautionary measure and to protect American lives and property." 162 men were landed and stationed across from 'Iolani Palaee and next to the government building. That night, the Committee of Safety again met and named the advisory and

executive councils for the new provisional government. The next day, members of the Committee, led by Sanford Dole, proceeded to the government building where they took possession without a struggle. From the steps of the building, a proclamation was read declaring that the existing government was overthrown and a provisional government established in its plaee, "to exist until terms of union with the United States of Amenea have been negotiated and agreed upon." The provisional government requested recognition from Minister Stevens, and, before Queen Lili'uokalani had surrendered, Stevens provided it. That evening, Lili'uokalani surrendered, stating that she yielded to the "superior forces of the United States of America, whose minister . . . has caused United States troops to be landed at Honolulu and declared that he would support the . . . provisional government."

Troops from the Boston remained on shore in Honolulu. On February 1, 1893 Minister Stevens placed the provisional government under the protection of the United States and ordered the American flag hoisted over the government building.

On January 19th, a delegation had left Honolulu for Washington, D.C. to seek a treaty of annexation. Such a treaty was negotiated and sent to the U.S. Senate by President Harrison on February 15th. Harrison asked for prompt and favorable action and denied that the U.S. was in anyway involved in overthrowing the Hawaiian monarchy. However, Grover Cleveland took office as president before the annexation treaty was passed. The new administration withdrew the treaty. Finally in 1898, Hawai'i was annexed to the United States.

According to Smith, Stevens replied that troops on board the U.S.S. Boston, anchored in Honolulu Harbor, "would be ready to land any moment ..."

President Cleveland "acknowledged and condemned the role of the United States and recommended actions to restore Lili'uokalani to the throne:"

"Hawaii is ours. As 1 look back upon thefirststeps in this miserable business and as I contemplate the means used to complete the outrage, I am ashamed of the whole affair. "

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