Did you know that Hawaii, the 50th state admitted to the union, was once its own kingdom? Long ago, dating back for more than 200 years, Hawaii was ruled by a king or queen, reining over the united islands and bringing Hawaii to the world. Throughout the entire period that Hawaii was an independent kingdom, kings and queens were seen as larger than life figures, and as the years have passed, their legend has grown and grown, their influence still prominently displayed throughout the islands, and even their image is widely seen during day-to-day life in Hawaii.
Kings and Queens of the Kingdom of Hawaii
King Kamehameha – 1810-1819
Also known as King Kamehameha the Great. The first king of Hawaii did more than rule over the islands, he actually unified them under a single ruler. His army took control of each island one at a time, with the final island, Kauai, coming under his rule in 1810. He promoted trade with the United States and Europe, and created a the legal system of Hawaii.
King Kamehameha II – 1819-1824
His birth name is Liholiho and his birth name is often used in his reference. The first-born son of King Kamehameha the Great, he was actually co-ruler of Hawaii, along with his mother, Ka’ahumanu. Perhaps most interesting of all, Liholiho passed away during a visit London in 1824, and news of death didn’t reach Hawaii the following year.
King Kamehameha III – 1825-1854
The longest serving ruler of the Kingdom, King Kamehameha III was one of the most forward thinking, creating the Hawaiian Language Constitution, as well as the 1852 constitution that expanded on the initial constitution, giving Hawaii a democratic constitution that was in line with those of Europe and the United States.
King Kamehameha IV – 1855-1872
Born Alexander Liholiho, he was groomed to be king from birth. The grandson of King Kamehameha the Great, he was adopted by his uncle, King Kamehameha III as a toddler, and was decreed as the heir to the throne. Liholiho became king when he was 20 years old, and is probably the most educated of all rulers, having studied Law when he was 14 years old, and spending many years meeting with rulers from around the world.
King Kamehameha V – 1863-1872
The brother of King Kamehame IV, he is thought of as the last traditional king of Hawaii, and enacted a new constitution in 1864. He introduced the Hawaiian Board of Medicine, encouraged the revival of traditional Hawaiian practices, and enjoyed an increase of tourism during his reign. Most notably, he refused to sign the bill introducing the sale of alcohol to the islands.
King Lunalilo – 1873-1874
The first king that was elected by the people, of Hawaii, Charles Lunalilo was actually born in a house that is now the grounds of the Iolani Palace. A lover of Shakespeare and a composer of music, King Lunalilo spent the single year of his reign reshaping Hawaii’s government, giving the people a greater say, and helping to give him the nickname “the people’s king”. Following his death, he was buried at Kawaiahao Church.
King Kalakaua – 1874-1891
The last King of Hawaii, David Kalakaua was elected following the death of King Lunalilo. One of the most notable things that King Kalakaua did was bring back the hula, previously banned from public in Hawaii was now seen as a celebration of culture. He rebuilt the Iolani Palace, encouraged Hawaiians to broaden their education, and brought great prosperity to the islands. He also ratified the Reciprocity Treaty of 1875, allowing the United States exclusive use of Pearl Harbor.
Queen Liliuokalani - 1891-1893 Deposed in 1893; abdicated in 1895
The first Queen of Hawaii and the last monarch of the kingdom, Queen Liliuikalani was the ruler of the islands when the United States overthrew the kingdom, claiming Hawaii, and relegating the queen to a room in the Iolani Palace, where she was imprisoned for 8 months in an upstairs bedroom. She was the composer of “Aloha ‘Oe”, and one of the most important figures in Hawaiian history.
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