Historical Collections of The Hawaiian Islands - Kalakaua -- Part 1 The US GenWeb Archives provide genealogical and historical data to the general public without fee or charge of any kind. It is intended that this material not be used in a commercial manner. All submissions become part of the permanent collection. Historical Collections of The Hawaiian Islands " Keepers of the Culture " A study in time of the Hawaiian Islands As told by the ancients-- Kalakaua ---- Part 1. Hawaii's 2nd elected and last King. Kalakaua 's early years as told by the ancients. by Darlene E. Kelley December 31, 2000 http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00026.html#0006374 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ As told by the Ancients-- Kalakaua ---- Part 1 Hawaii's 2nd elected and last King.. David La'amea Kalakaua [ 1836 -- 1891 ] Born; November 16, 1836. Father; Caesar Kapa'akea, son of Kamanawa l of Kona who supported Kamehameha l. Mother; Keohokalole. Ruled; February 12, 1874 until his death on January 20, 1891. Married; Julia Kapi'olani ; born December 31, 1834. Her father was Kuhio, high chief of Hilo and Mother was Princess Kinoiki, a daughter of Kaumuali'i, who was the last King of Kauai. She died June 24,1899. Once again, the Hawaiian Kingdom was thrown in disarray over the matter of succession, and the names of the same ali'is came up for consideration to replace the deceased king. But of this group, only three were considered serious contenders: Queen Emma, Bernice Pauahi Bishop, and David Kalakaua who became the most active contender. Having accepted his earlier defeat with dignity, Kalakaua received an appointment as a Colonel on Lunalilo's military staff. Queen Emma, who had previously supported Lunalilo, announced her candidacy and asserted that the late King had intended for her to become his successor. Since most of the local newspapers supported Kalakaua, Queen Emma and her followers resorted to distributing placards and handbills throughout the city, thereby initiating a propaganda war. Bernice Pauahi Bishop, handicapped by an American husband, displayed little desire in seeking the throne. While a number of Americans in Honolulu distrusted Kalakaua, they perceived Quen Emma as being pro-British. So these Americans gave their support to Kalakaua. The King's cabinet scheduled a special legislative meeting for February 12 to take up the matter of succession. This gave the two candidates sufficient time to wage a furious campaign for the vacant throne. With three warships in Honolulu Harbor [ two American and one British], the American Minister, Henry A. Peirce, arranged a shore-to-ship signal with the senior American naval officer to land troops should violence erupt. When the legislative ballots were counted, Kalakaua emerged victorious. As a committee left the courthouse to notify him, its members were attacked by Queen Emma's supporters who had just heard the results. In a wild melee that followed the angry supporters demolished a carriage and used the pieces as clubs.They stormed the courthouse. ravaged its interior, and attacked the legislators who were desperately trying to escape. The police were totally ineffective in controlling the riot, and since there was no standing army, the new government asked the American Minister for help. Pierce sent his prearranged signal and 150 armed marines and bluejackets came ashore. Shortly thereafter, about 70 British troops joined the Americans in dispersing the crowd and restoring order. The troops remained ashore for about eight days until tensions eased. On the 13th, Kalakaua took the oath of office inside the riot torn courthouse. The diplomatic representatives of the United States, Great Britain, and France promptly recognized Kalakaua as the new sovereign, and later the same day, Queen Emma did likewise, She also asked her supporters to accept the new King and avoid any further acts of violence. Kalakaua's Early Years---- Told by the ancients--- On November 16, 1836, the hot sun blazed on the compound of High Chief Aikanaka at the base of Punch Bowl Hill in Honolulu, Hawaii. There was nothing extraordinary happening like rain, thunder, lightning, wind, like the portents for royalty. He was not a Kamehameha royal-- yet he was prophesied to be Hawaii's last king. In High Chief Aikanaka's compound of many grass strctures for cooking, eating, gathering, and retainers' quarters was one larger hut in which lay Keohokalole, the chld's mother, awaiting the birth of her second born. The first child had died at birth. The great prophetess and High Chieftess Liliha had said it would be a man child. and he would live. She had cast his horoscope for this day and prophesied: " From this child, the bones of our ancestors will have life." It was a curious prophesy, but Hawaiians were used to enigmatic prophesies. She had also said that he would see the demise of the Kamehamehas,the then ruling line, but Liliha hated the Kamehamehas, and this might have been wishful thinking, for there were three throne aligned young princes hanai to Kamehameha lll, the ruling king. [ Hanai was a Hawaiian custom in which a child was given at birth from one high child to another to cement relationships between the families and to elevate the child's status. It was practiced among commoners as well.] Surely the Kamehamehas and their off spring would rule Hawaii forever. The three young heirs to the throne were the children of the King's half-sister. the Prime Minister Kinau. The child about to be born was promised in hanai to Liliha, now waiting in her frame house in Honolulu. She was particularly pleased with this hanai. She and her husband, Boki, had no sons. Liliha had two daughters; Abigail and Jane Louea. But she had seen great things in her prophesies for the child who was soon to be her hanai. However, Liliha was controversial among both the new missionary haole [ foreigners ] and the Kamehamehas. Liliha had been a close friend to Kamehameha ll and his wife Kamamalu, and had accompanied them øn their trip to England in 1824, where, unfortunately, they had both died. But before their deaths, she hd been entertained as royalty, having been feted and taken to the Royal Theater. She and Boki had brought back the bodies of the kng and queen and the story that Kamehameha ll had gone to England to ask for British missionaries to be sent to Hawaii and for a set of political laws for governing Hawaii. Lord Byron, cousin of the poet, had brought the royal entourage back in the Blonde and had replied to Kaahumanu, ruling regent for the new King, Kamehameha ll's twelve year old brother, that the King of England did not wish to interfere in the islands nor give any rules, but advised that those ' that best fit the islands' should be retained. Liliha had formed an attempted revolt against missionary oriented Kaahumanu's authority and rule, which was put down almost before it began. Nevertheless, because of it Liliha had lost popularity among many of the Kamehameha supporters. She was thoroughly ostracized by the missionary haule, because she and Boki owned and operated a house of prostitution in Honolulu, to the amusement of many Hawaiians. She beat the haole at their own game. The sailors now paid more than a scarf or a silver coin to the Hawaiian girls who in the past had swum naked to the anchored ships. Aikanaka, the child's grandfather, thought Liliha was the perfect hanai for his daughters' child. Liliha was glamorous; and she wore the latest European styles brought to her by seaman and whalers. She entertained lavishly, having rich lands of her own, and was enormously popular among many Hawaiians and non-missionary haole. In the compound Aikanaka and Kapaakea, the childs father, waited for the birth of the baby. The pregnancy had been difficult, and Keohokalole had lain long and laboriously on the pandanus mats that were piled high in the windowless grass hut. With her were a number of high chiefesses, bosoms bared, for it was a hot day, playing cards, chewing grass, and accurately using gourd spittoons. Keohokalole's cries became louder, and many retainers walkng between the huts and sparse trees stopped to listen. If she should die there would be great wailing and keening as expressions of grief. The kind hat sent chills of horror through the missionary women. But there would also be feasting and riotous living-- if allowed-- especially if the child lived. This was a period between the pre-Christian [ only sixteen years previously the first missionaries had come] and the new ways; and no one knew what to expect-- the unemotional missionary way or the loose Hawaiian custom. One of the women moved out of the doorway of the hut and called for a kahuna [ priest ] to come quickly. The Kahuna rose quickly from his crossed-legged position on the ground. He glanced anxiously around for fear of being caught by missionary converts. He saw none. The household of Aikanaka and Kapaakea had not been totally swayed by the missionary doctrine, and certainly were not at such a crucial moment. The child was being born. The chanters began their mele [ chants ]. The child's ancestry was extolled: His mother was descended from Keawe-a-Heulu and his father was the grandson of Kameeiamoku. The two had been trusted warriors and close advisors to Kaehameha l. It was a worthy line. The child was born-- a head of curly black hair and a perfect body. The chieftesses were overjoyed as he showed signs that he could be the father of many. He would increase the rapidly dying race now being destroyed by foreigners' diseases. News traveled quickly, and suddenly the compound was crowded with people, rejoycing, singing, dancing. There was the stout Kinau, the prime minister, clad in European fashion, followed by her retinue. The highest alii in the land had come to name the child. It was her privilege. Without a Gregorian calender, children were named by notable historical events, which would date their birth. Kinau decreed; Kalakaua, " Battle Day." History and the ancients gives the complete name as Laamea Kamanakapuu Mahinulani Nalolaekalani Lumia-Lani Kalakaua. November 16, 1836, was the day that the treaty with Lord Edward Russell was signed, giving the British subjects the right to come to the Sandwich Islands [ Hawaii ] to reside as long as they conformed to the laws of the island, to build houses for themselves and their merchandise " with the consent of the King."