I KNEW QUEEN LILIUOKALANI
BY BERNICE PIILANI (COOK) IRWIN
"THE DEATH OF A NATION"
The day so long desired by the foreign Annexationists at last arrived. OnAugust 12, 1898, annexation exercises were held on the steps of IolaniPalace--and Hawaii was transferred into the hands of the United Statesof America.
With the usual poor taste displayed by the officials of the Republic, invitations were sent to Queen Liliuokalaniand her niece, the beautiful Princess Kaiulani, to attend theceremonies of the lowering of their flag and the raising of theAmerican flag! Needless to say, they sent their regrets. It wassupposed by some people that this insult was unintentional, but oncebefore, shortly after the overthrow of the monarchy, in February, 1893,Her Majesty had received an invitation to a reception to honor CaptainWiles of the USS Boston under whose guns she had been forced to give up the reins of government.
Both these invitations had been addressed to Mrs. J. O. Dominis. Thiscrude insult had caused much unfavorable comment in the Hawaiianlanguage press. They jeered at the depth of ignorance of theannexationist officials and asked, "Do we hear of Mr. NapoleonBonaparte being incarcerated at St. Helena?" This second invitationcould only have been sent with the deliberate intent of humiliating HerMajesty. Can anyone imagine anything more crude and cruel! "Man'sinhumanity to man makes countless millions mourn."
Part of the propaganda of the foreign Annexationists had been that Hawaiianswanted annexation, but here was the answer. Scarcely an Hawaiian facewas to be seen in the not too large assemblage which gathered in thepalace grounds. This last gesture was a silent protest of the Hawaiianpeople. They could do no more. Only those few Hawaiians who had beenforced to swear allegiance to the Republic in order to retain theirgovernment positions, knowing no other means of livelihood, could notavoid this heartbreak, and were forced to be present among theofficials on that sad day. Those who were present covered their eyesas their beloved flag was lowered, while tears streamed down theircheeks.
And where were the forty thousand Hawaiians? They were in their homes with shutters drawn, sorrowful of heart for the"Life of the Land" Had been given away by a group of foreigners whohad betrayed the open-hearted hospitality of the Hawaiians.
This day, so long anticipated by the foreign Annexationsits as a day ofgreat joy, proved a day of great sadness. Many wept unabashed, andtears glistened in the eyes of even some of the Annexationists as ourbeloved flag quivered as though itself in protest on the final quaveringnotes of Hawaii Ponoi, Hawaii's national anthem. Then the flag floated down for the last time as the emblem of the land.
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Soon the day will come, we will have our freedom and our Nation back fromUnited States. Regardless of what they do to us Hawaiian Nationals, wewill die for our country, because of the continued pain inflicted uponour people. We are never going away. This is our home. Our ancestralblood has been spilled across the land for thousands of years. KeAkuawill restore the Kapu on the sacred temples destroyed by evil men of thepast and present. The lands are sacred and not to be sold. May KeAkuabless our souls and give us life,mana,and Peace.
Long live the Hawaiian Kingdom!!!
Mama kakaua!!!
Keli'iKanaka'ole
Comments
Long Live The Hawaiian Kingdom, o Pomai
For those native Hawaiians who believe in the Blood Quatum law of the United States, yes they have allowed the United States to take over their lives.
For those Hawaiian National Royalist like myself, we are in the process of taking back our Kingdom nation and our lives from the Occupation of the United States. It is a slow process but we are moving forward every day with positive actions. Thou small actions, but they are strong and positive actions.
Hawaiian Nationals no longer will allow any American Laws to take over our lives, without a KUE.
We are Hawaiian Nationals and we know who we are and where we want to go.
Going Home to the Hawaiian Kingdom nation of Queen Liliuokalani for me has been a challenge in many ways. A challenge that I will continue to walk that path. Knowing that it is the path that my Kupuna wants me to walk.
This is why my involvement with the making of the KUE: Anti-Annexation, No Treaty of Annexation Signs are so Pono to me. These are the Kupuna who first stood up to the military and diplomatic forces of the United States protesting the annexation of Hawaii in 1897.
Queen Liliuokalani knew that someday her people would once more raise and take back their country. On January 17, 1993 I recounced my citizenship to the United States and went home to my county, the Hawaiian Kingdom nation of Queen Liliuokalani and my Na Kupuna.
Long Live The Hawaiian Kingdom, o Pomaikaiokalani, Hawaiian Kingdom National Royalist 1993