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A painting depicting a hut and parts of Native Hawaiian culture.

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The Great Mahele, or the Great Divide, officially began in 1848. Earlier, in 1845, King Kamehameha III set up a Land Commission to divide Hawaii's land into three owners. The King, chiefs, and maka'ainana, or the common people. However, land was not automatically given to residents. Chiefs were able to claim their lands until 1895. In 1850, the Kuleana Act was approved, signifying the ability for the common people to claim their land. However, the filing system was complicated, and the deadline was shorter for the maka'ainana. When the 1854 deadline passed, few Hawaiians were able to claim their land.

The Great Mahele was able to influence the overthrow of Hawaii by removing Hawaiians from their land. The Mahele had good intentions for the people but was led astray by complications. Only around 1% of Hawaii's land was able to be given to Native Hawaiians. Forced off fields and homes, many were only able to work as unpaid labor. The people were no longer in charge of their land.

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1849 - A Secret Annexation Effort with the US

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1849 - A Secret Annexation Effort with the US

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French aggression in 1849 prompted worries from King Kamehameha III that Hawaii would be seized by France. On March 10, 1851, the king sent a secret annexation proclamation was sent to the US requesting American protection; and in case of emergency, to cede Hawaii to the US. Throughout the majority of 1854, Hawaii and the US discussed the topic of annexation. However, King Kamehameha III passed away on December 15, 1854. His successor, Kamehameha IV, decided against annexation.

The secret annexation effort with the US may have been a culprit in influencing the eventual overthrow. The effort provided people with reasons as to why it would be beneficial to annex Hawaii. It may have also allowed the US the idea that annexing Hawaii would be useful. For example, U.S. Secretary of State, William Marcy, describes in a secret letter the adverse effect that allowing Hawaii to fall to another nation could be. He also explains that he does not trust the island's current rulers to protect or provide adequately for Hawaii.

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1868 - Reciprocity Treaty or Annexation?

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1868 - Reciprocity Treaty or Annexation?

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In the 1860's, when sugar became Hawaii’s main export, businesses had to pay high import taxes to the US. To mend this, a Reciprocity Treaty was pursued by King Kamehameha IV to overcome the tax and improve Hawaii's economy. The Reciprocity Treaty allowed for American preferences to Hawaiian goods, and Hawaiian preferences for American goods. In 1867, U.S. Minister to Hawaii, Edward McCook, mentioned that a Reciprocity Treaty would allow for the initial step in gaining the islands, or annexation. They wanted it as a rendezvous for the Pacific navy and a port for merchant ships.

The Reciprocity Treaty gave ideas to people that annexing Hawaii would be beneficial. Its benefits could be translated to money, or profit. It also gave the chance for the US to contemplate Pearl Harbor. It's usefulness in military and commercial use was not to be ignored. While many were advocating for annexation at this time, it was deemed that Hawaii should be taken over with the consent of the people.

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In 1873, W. Belknap, U.S. Secretary of War, sent two military personnel to act as spies under the guise of vacation to Pearl Harbor. The US planned to evaluate the harbor's utility for commercial and military purposes. Major General John Schofield and Brigadier General B.S. Alexander arrived in Honolulu in January of 1873. In a report known as the Schofield report, the men praised Pearl Harbor for both its naval and commercial benefits, suggesting the US exchange a Reciprocity Treaty for Pearl Harbor. The report was kept secret until 1897, when annexation was considered.

Pearl Harbor especially proved a great advantage. To scout the usefulness of it, the US sent in two men, Major General John Schofield and Brigadier General B.S. Alexander. They wrote the Schofield Report. In the Schofield Report, the harbor was deemed as a very important piece of land. It emphasized both the military and commercial benefits, and recommended the US take it into consideration. This may have been a turning point into convincing the US that Hawaii was a necessary land to be conquered.

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The approval of the Reciprocity Treaty allowed Hawaii's sugar export to reach 250 million pounds in 1890.

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During 1874, King Kalakaua travelled to the US to request the approval of the Reciprocity Treaty to President Ulysses Grant in a joint session of Congress. Once the treaty reached Senate, however, it was discussed in secret. Hamilton State, Secretary of State, included a special clause that prevented any nation from leasing or obtaining Pearl Harbor. Sugar exports were able to skyrocket, increasing 10-fold from 1875 to 1890. Just one year after the treaty, U.S. Minister Henry Peirce declared that the Hawaiian Islands were practically “an American colony in all their material and political interests.”

The updated Reciprocity Treaty allowed goods from Hawaii to be shipped to the US without tariffs. However, it was able to establish control over the Hawaiian Islands, leading the US a step closer to the annexation of Hawaii. The treaty provided a large economic effect on both the US and Hawaii. It was so effective it could be claimed that Hawaii had already become an American colony. However, the economic gain may have convinced others the islands contained materials necessary to reap.

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1887 - The Secret Hawaiian League is Established

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1887 - The Secret Hawaiian League is Established

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From 1887, a group of Caucasian businessmen created the Hawaiian League to challenge King Kalakaua. They established a new political party, the “Reform Party.”

They deemed themselves as a “morally righteous group,” and advocated for better government in the beginning. However, they soon changed ideals, advocating for Caucasian rights and the restriction of Native Hawaiian rights. The Hawaiian League was led by Lorrin Thurston, a lawyer, a legislator, a newspaperman, and a missionary descendant. Thurston was inspired by the French Revolution's overthrow of the king.

The Hawaiian League amassed a large amount of followers around six months after their initiation. Over four hundred people believed that the Hawaiian League was the correct way to deal with Hawaii's government. They wanted more Caucasian rights, and to diminish the Native Hawaiians' ones. Lorrin Thurston believed that once the Hawaiian government was toppled, the US could finally take over. His ideals could have influenced others in the League, which may have allowed ideas of how best to fall the government to stir.

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The Bayonet Constitution was the result of combined efforts from the Hawaiian League and Honolulu Rifles. On June 30, 1887, The Hawaiian League issued a meeting at the Honolulu Rifles' Armory building. The next day, the group made demands to Kalakaua, including the change of his cabinet to League members. During July 5, 1887, Lorrin Thurston, Chief Justice Albert F. Judd, and Associate Justice Edward Preston prepared and completed a new constitution. The next day, on July 6, King Kalakaua was forced to sign the Bayonet Constitution under threat of assassination.

The Bayonet Constitution stripped the monarchy of the majority of its power. It forced King Kalakaua to sign every bill and resolution, establish property and income requirements, required voters to sign oaths, and extended the ability to vote to all men, excluding anyone born in Asia. Obvious attempts to prevent Native Hawaiians and Asians to vote was made in the constitution. For example, since most Native Hawaiians no longer had any land, they would likely be excluded from the voting process. Kalakaua was also forced to have a cabinet entirely of League members, which did not allow him to run the government at all.

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1889 - American Diplomat Pushes Annexation

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1889 - American Diplomat Pushes Annexation

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John Stevens, the Hawaii US Minister at the time, claimed that King Kalakaua and "a few corrupt parasites" are attempting to change the constitution and obtain money from London in order to enact deceitful deals. Stevens constantly justified annexing Hawaii, sending letters to US Secretary of State Blaine, as well as Blaine's replacement when he retired, John Foster. Letters sent to Blaine contained persuading comments on annexing Hawaii and criticism against King Kalakaua. In one of Stevens' letters, addressed to John Foster, he urges the secretary to purchase Hawaii for $100,000. In the message, it's stated that either annexation or the ceding of Pearl Harbor is necessary.

John Stevens, and his goal to annex Hawaii, was likely a large factor in overthrowing the islands. In letters where he criticized Kalakaua, likely brewed distrust and even hatred for the monarch. Claiming Kalakaua to be a parasite hungering for England's money would not help how U.S. Secretary of State Blaine viewed the Hawaiian government. Stevens also claimed that to ignore Hawaii would be an irreversible blunder. He did not want Britain to be able to gain control of the islands, and pressured Blaine to agree to annexation.

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Washington DC, where Thurston travelled to discuss annexation.

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In 1892, a group of seventeen Caucasian businessmen established the annexation club, led by Lorrin Thurston. During March 1892, Thurston travelled to Washington DC to meet with top-level government officials. He spoke about Hawaii's annexation openly. In Washington, Thurston is able to meet Navy Secretary Tracy, who claims that the US is largely sympathetic in efforts to annex Hawaii. On November 15, Archibald Hopkins, the Annexation Club representative in Washington DC, informed Lorrin Thurston of $250,000 that Queen Liliuokalani would be promised if she cedes Hawaii to the US.

The establishment of the Annexation club, and the support it received, was troublesome to Hawaii and its monarchy. The Annexation Club finds support in the White House through Navy Secretary Tracy. His meeting with Tracy gives Lorrin Thurston gets the idea of using force to remove Queen Liliuokalani. In a letter from US diplomat Stevens, it's stated that the monarchy is only an obstacle to be rid of in order to hold a good government. In fact, he says that the monarchy blocks the islands' prosperity and progress.

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Images of members of the Committee of Safety.

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1893 - Introduction of the Committee of Safety

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1893 - Introduction of the Committee of Safety

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The Committee of Safety was established on January 14, 1893. Out of thirteen members, twelve were from the Annexation Club, with nine Americans. The Committee's formation was prompted when news about Liliuokalani's constitution, a document to remove the effects of the Bayonet Constitution, was spread. After the creation of the Committee of Safety, Lorrin Thurston led a group to visit US Minister Stevens who promised the group military support. They wrote a letter to the minister requesting militia to "protect American life and property." On the 16th, the Committee met again, this time to ask Sanford Dole's hand in leadership. He agreed.

The Committee of Safety, with a majority of its members from the Annexation Club, only wanted to see the Hawaiian government fall. They had gotten support from Minister Stevens, who pledged to provide military support when the Committee needed it. US troops arrived in Hawaii on the 16th, showing the Queen that she did not have the power to fight back. Her military force was too weak. When Sanford Dole agreed to lead the Committee of Safety, it may have prompted many of his supporters to be on his side.

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On January 17, 1893, the Kingdom of Hawaii was overthrown. Near the beginning of the day, Sanford Dole accepted the new Provisional Government's leadership role. At around 2:00 PM, Dole provided U.S. Minister Stevens a letter announcing that the Committee of Safety intended to completely remove the Hawaiian monarchy. Annexationists asked U.S. Minister Stevens to recognize them, formally and officially, as a legitimate government. Once Stevens was able to provide his signature, the Committee of Safety was recognized as a Provisional Government. They demanded Liliuokalani to resign as a monarch. She resisted at first, but ultimately yielded to avoid bloodshed.

The new Provisional Government, the Committee of Safety, provided them with the authority to accuse Queen Liliuokalani of treason for drafting a new constitution. The Committee of Safety forced her to resign. The Queen did, to prevent violence and loss of life. The overthrow of the Queen proved to be one of the last bits of independence Hawaii could have. The last step would be to annex the islands.

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An American flag in Hawaii, hoisted into the air.

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The day after the Kingdom of Hawaii's illegal overthrow, on January 18, 1893, Liliuokalani rushed two appeals to U.S. President Benjamin Harrison, an annexation advocate, and elected President Grover Cleveland, who opposed Hawaii's annexation. Harrison attempted to rush an annexation treaty through Senate but could did not receive the proper vote. Cleveland sent a retired Congressman, James Blount, to investigate the overthrow. In the Blount Report, page 200, it explains how there were no witnesses at the time the Provisional Government overtook Hawaii. In general, it explains how the actions taken to overthrow the monarchy as legally morally wrong. The Morgan Report, however, claims them as legally and morally correct. In 1897, William McKinley, a Republican on the side of annexing Hawaii, was elected. However, many people still rallied against it. Only once America declared war on Spain and Hawaii became a “war necessity,” annexationists attempted a different solution. They proposed a Joint Congressional Resolution, with the only requirement a majority vote. On August 12, 1898, Hawaii became a territory of the United States.

With the Joint Congressional Resolution, Hawaii was no longer an independent nation, governed by its monarchy. By the time the resolution, a majority vote, was spawned, many people did not know the questionable history of Hawaii's overthrow. The Ku'ue Petition, a mass petition signed by a majority of Native Hawaiians, organized by island and district, then man and woman, against the annexation of Hawaii, was overpowered by the number of residents living on the islands. There weren't enough people against annexation to fight it.