Hawaii's Story by Hawaii's Queen

(Hardback)

Publishing Details

Classifications

Physical Properties

Description

Hawaii's Story by Hawaii's Queen (1898) is an autobiography by Lili'uokalani. Published in 1898, the book was written in the aftermath of Lili'uokalani's attempt to appeal on behalf of her people to President Grover Cleveland, a personal friend. Although it inspired Cleveland to demand her reinstatement, the United States Congress published the Morgan Report in 1894, which denied U.S. involvement in the overthrow of the Kingdom of Hawaii. Hawaii's Story by Hawaii's Queen appeared four years later as a final effort by Lili'uokalani to advocate on behalf of Hawaiian sovereignty, but it unfortunately came too late. That same year, President McKinley and the United States Congress approved the annexation of Hawaii.

In Hawaii's Story by Hawaii's Queen, Lili'uokalani reflects on her experiences as a young girl growing up on Oahu, where she was raised as a member of the extended royal family of King Kamehameha III. Born in Honolulu, she was educated and groomed to one day ascend to the throne. Lili'uokalani developed an artistic sensibility early on, and was fond of both writing and music, crafting the lyrics to the popular song "Aloha 'Oe" (1878). Although her book was unsuccessful as an attempt to advocate for Hawaiian sovereignty and the restoration of the monarchy, it has since been recognized as a moving personal portrait of a girl who grew up to become Hawaii's first and only queen, a beloved monarch who fought for the rights of her people.

This edition of Lili'uokalani's Hawaii's Story by Hawaii's Queen is a classic of Hawaiian literature reimagined for modern readers.

Since our inception in 2020, Mint Editions has kept sustainability and innovation at the forefront of our mission. Each and every Mint Edition title gets a fresh, professionally typeset manuscript and a dazzling new cover, all while maintaining the integrity of the original book.

With thousands of titles in our collection, we aim to spotlight diverse public domain works to help them find modern audiences. Mint Editions celebrates a breadth of literary works, curated from both canonical and overlooked classics from writers around the globe.

Author Bio

Liliuokalani (1838-1917) was the last and only queen of the Hawaiian Kingdom. Born in Honolulu to a prominent chief and chiefess, Liliuokalani was adopted and raised by a chief advisor of King Kamehameha III. Liliuokalani was baptized as a Christian and educated at the Royal School. Declared eligible to succeed to the throne, Liliuokalani married John Owen Dominis, an American who was later appointed Governor of Oahu. After her brothers death in 1891, Liliuokalani ascended to the throne, marking the beginning of a brief reign with which she would attempt to create a new constitution restoring power to the monarchy and granting voter rights to the poor and disenfranchised. In retaliation, and with the help of Hawaiian oligarchs, American led forces overthrew the Hawaiian Kingdom in 1893, bringing an abrupt end to Liliuokalanis rule. In 1895, following the failed Wilcox rebellion, Liliuokalani was placed under house arrest and forced to abdicate, leading to the annexation of Hawaii by the United States in 1898. During her imprisonment, Liliuokalani wrote Hawaii's Story by Hawaii's Queen (1898), an autobiography detailing her life and appealing for her reinstatement as queen. In addition, while she was Princess of the Hawaiian Kingdom, Liliuokalani wrote the popular song Aloha Oe, (1878) now a symbol of Hawaiian sovereignty and identity.