Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 39, Number 9, 1 September 2022 — I Ka Makua o Ka Lāhui Hawai'i [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

I Ka Makua o Ka Lāhui Hawai'i

By Ronald Williams, Jr. The letter eame from a small church in Koa'e, in the district of Puna, near Kīlauea volcano, the majestic home of Pele. It arrived - in late April 1894 - as Her Majesty Queen Lili'uokalani was organizing a response to the announcement by the ruling provisional government that they would declare a more permanent regime, a Repuhlie of Hawai'i, on 4 July of that year. An agreement between President Cleveland and Queen Lili'uokalani to restore her to power had fallen apart when the United States failed to follow through. The situation was dire, and the queen agonized over the fate of her people and their beloved nation. At her writing desk within Washington Plaee, Queen Lili'uokalani removed the correspondence from its envelope and began to read. The letter's salutation filled her heart: "I ka Makua o Ka Lahui Hawaii" (To the Mother of the Hawaiian Nation/People). On 26 April 1894, Reverend Job Nalauahi Kamoku of Ka 'Ekalesia o Koa'e, wrote his Queen with assurances of the people's unflagging support for her as the leader of their nation. The reverend reported "huina he 15 wale no" (a total of only 15) people in all the moku (district) of Puna who had taken the required oath of allegiance to the new government. He closed with the reassurance, "E hoomanao oe aia makou a pau ma ka aoao Aloha Aina, Aloha ia oe, ko makou Moiwahine i Aloha nuiia a me

ka hilinai no ke Kuokoa mauloa o Kou Aupuni." (Remember, we are all on the side of Aloha 'Āina, we love you, our beloved Queen, and we trust in the continued independence of your government). Hawai'i's eighth ruling monarch shared an exceptional bond with her people that went beyond the traditionally reciproeal connection between kānaka and ali'i that required loyalty from both sides. Queen Lili'uokalani took on her nation's worries, fears, expectations,

and hopes while offering comfort and grace, no matter the outcome. In 1897, while thousands of miles from home, amidst Her ongoing struggle to prevent the theft of the Hawaiian nation, Queen Lili'uokalani wrote, "I would undertake anything for the benefit of my people. It is for them that I would give my last drop of blood." Still, she questioned whether it was enough: "But for the Hawaiian people, for the forty thousand of my own race...for them has this mission of mine accomplished

anything?" When a photographic print of the Queen taken in a New England studio arrived at the newspaper offices of Ke Aloha 'Āina on King Street in downtown Honolulu, the staff shared the experience with its readers: 'Aohe mea oi ae o ko makou ohaoha, a mahamaha hoi a ka naau, elike la me ke kii piha o ka Moiwahine Liliuokalani a Alii Aimoku hoi o Hawaii." (There is nothing more delightful or pleasing to the heart than the full image of Queen Lili'uokalani the Royal Sovereign of Hawai'i). They continued, "I ko makou kilohi ana mailuna a lalo, aohe mea a ka manao e kaohi iho ai i na omaka waipuilani o na kulu waimaka mai ko makou lihilihi iho." (As we gazed from top to bottom, there was no thought of restraining the waterspout of tears that flowed down from our lashes). These po'e aloha 'āina (patriots), ffom publishers to paperboys, spoke with one voice, explaining, "aohe hoi he mea a ka maka e hoopaweo ai, i kona wa e ike aku ai i ka Makuahine o kona lahui." (There was nothing that would cause the face to turn away as one beheld the Mother of her nation). In 'Ōlelo Noe'au, the treasured collection of Hawaiian proverbs and poetical sayings, Mary Kawena Pukui annotates her translation of "Hānau ka aina, hānau ke ali'i, hānau ke kanaka" with the explanation, "Ihe land, the chiefs, and the commoners belong together." SEE I KA MAKUA 0 KA LAHUI HAWAI'I ON PAGE 15

Queen Lili'uokalani wūs greatly beloved by her people who referred to her ūs the "Mother of her Notion." - Photo: Howoi'i State Archives

IKAMAKUAOKA LĀHUI HAWAI'I Continued from page 8 At few points in Hawaiian history has this ancient saying meant more than during the reign and later life of Her Majesty Queen Lili'uokalani. On the 2 September anniversary of her birth, we celebrate not just the character

and actions of this eternal Queen of Hawai'i, but also that unceasing love that she gave and received ffom her people. We acknowledge the purposeful aetions of the aged and the young, the farmers and the fishermen, the teachers and the students, the pastors and the poliee, indeed, the nation, that wrapped its makuahine in broad arms of aloha mae'ole (never-fading love), and we embrace that legacy that calls on all of us to continue to do the same. ■