Queen Liliuokalani

The Liliuokalani reign (1891 - 1893) was short lived and ended with the overthrow of the Kingdom of Hawaii by American forces. When imprisoned in Iolani Palace, the Queen called out to her fellow Christians of her tragic fate. Queen Liliuokalani is still loved by her people who continue to mourn the loss of their Queen and the Kingdom of Hawaii. Liliuokalani, the sister of King Kalakaua, took the oath of office and was proclaimed queen on Jan. 29, 1891, after the death of her brother. She was a brilliant woman, talented and dignified. Queen Liliuokalani's reign of less than two years was filled with trouble and after much despair, ended in failure when on July 4, 1894 the Republic of Hawaii was proclaimed. Liliuokalani was an author in English and Hawaiian and was the most accomplished musician and composer in her family. She composed over 600 songs, some of Hawaii's most inspiring musical works, among which is one of the most beautiful, yet saddest of all Hawaiian songs, Aloha Oe: Farewell to Thee. Even though it seems to have been written as a farewell song between two lovers, it is more poetically thought of as being written by the Queen as a lasting farewell to her reign and the end of the Kingdom of Hawaii as a sovereign and independent country. In addition to writing music, she played the piano. ukulele, guitar, zither and organ. With her training and education she understood ancient Hawaiian and Western music as well as any musician in her time. Queen Liliuokalani is still remembered and loved for all she did for the Hawaiian people.