Portrait: AI-generated imagined likeness
Monarch · Composer · Writer
The last queen of the Kingdom of Hawaii, who faced the overthrow of the kingdom by American forces. Both a monarch and a composer, he symbolizes the colonized Pacific world. I can also see the pain of losing sovereignty.
View in catalogHonolulu
Birth
Iolani Palace
Residence
Aloha ʻOe
1878
Music
Overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom
1893
Political event · Subject
Map: Natural Earth (PD)
Born into a royal family in Honolulu, he grew up in the missionary education and political culture of the Kingdom of Hawaii. In the 19th century, Hawaii was strongly influenced by the sugar trade and American influence.
Once on the throne, he sought to restore royal authority and protect the political rights of the Hawaiian people. However, in 1893, the monarchy was overthrown by American residents and under military pressure, and the country was later annexed.
Liliuokalani is also known as the author of the famous song "Aloha Oe." Memories of political defeat and pride in Hawaiian culture are combined in one person.
When we study Liliuokalani, we understand that imperialism extended not only to Asia and Africa but also to the islands of the Pacific Ocean. This is an important entry point for thinking about the loss of sovereignty, the rights of indigenous peoples, and the inheritance of culture. Hawaii's history can be repositioned within the history of imperialism.
