Lydia Lili‘u Loloku Walania Wewehi Kamaka‘eha was born in Honolulu on September 2, 1838. As a young girl, she attended The Royal School and became fluent in English. Her brother King David Kalakau'a was the last king of Hawai'i. When King Kalakaua died, Lydia Lili'u inherited the throne to Hawai'i. In January 1891, with her new name, Lili'uokalani was declared the Queen of Hawai'i. When King Kalakau'a was in charge, he was forced to create a new constitution which limited the power of the Hawaiian people and the Hawaiian monarchy. Queen Lili'uokalani wanted to write a new constitution restoring power and rights to the Hawaiian monarchy and the Hawaiian people. Sugar planters, pineapple planters, businessmen, and other Americans were afraid of the Queen's new constitution. The businessmen wanted to make money and thought the new constitution would make them lose money so they made plans to overthrow the Queen and the Hawaiian monarchy. In 1893, the businessmen and U.S. troops took over the palace and forced the Queen to give up her throne. Queen Lili'uokalani gave up her throne to protect her people for she was afraid for her people. Queen Lili'uokalani did not want her people to die so she surrendered her throne to the United States. Sanford Dole and other American businessmen formed a new government and hoped the United States would take over Hawai'i. The Queen asked the United States President Cleveland for his help to restore her monarchy. The President agreed that the overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy was wrong but had Congress make a decision on reinstating the Hawaiian monarchy. Both Congress and the President did not make a decision. Sanford Dole formed the Republic of Hawai'i and became its president. Many Hawaiians fought to restore the Hawaiian monarchy. In January 1895, Queen Lili'uokalani was arrested because a search team found hidden weapons in her home. She was imprisoned in the Iolani Palace. While in prison, she was given a document to give up her power formally. She believed that if she didn't sign it, her people would be killed. To protect her people, she signed the document formally giving up her power. The Queen was put on trial and was humiliated and taunted but she never lost her dignity. After being in prison for over a year, the Queen was finally free. However, she was never given back her title, power or monarchy. Hawai'i became a part of the United States. Queen Lili'uokalani died in 1917 at 79 years old. She fought for justice for her people and for the power to be given back to the Hawaiian people. When she died, her plea for justice was still unanswered.
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