Hawaiʻi's Journey to Statehood | The Last Queen | 1

American History Tellers

Wondery

Society & Culture, Kids & Family, History, Education For Kids

4.7 • 18.3K Ratings

🗓️ 22 March 2023

⏱️ 44 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

In 1893 the independent island kingdom of Hawaiʻi flourished under the leadership of its monarch, Queen Lili’uokalani. But as the leaders of Hawaiʻi’s lucrative sugar industry gained power, the Queen struggled to maintain control. Soon, the so-called sugar barons, with the backing of American politicians, began plotting to overthrow the Queen.

The contested and controversial removal of Hawaiʻi’s last reigning monarch would pave the way for the kingdom to be annexed as a U.S. territory, forever changing the fate of the islands.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	Hey, Prime members, you can listen to American History Tellers add free on Amazon Music,
0:05.6	download the app today.
0:09.4	Imagine it's the afternoon of January 14, 1893.
0:22.4	You're a longtime friend and advisor to Hawaii's Queen, Lili Okalani.
0:27.2	She summoned you to Iolani Palace in downtown Honolulu, and you're fighting your way through
0:31.8	a crowd of her supporters who have gathered outside.
0:35.2	It's been a tumultuous few months.
0:37.8	Tensions have escalated between native Hawaiians and those beholden to the powerful sugarlaby
0:42.3	in the islands.
0:43.8	Yesterday, the queen asked you to become her Minister of Foreign Affairs just two days
0:48.1	after her previous cabinet resigned.
0:51.8	You enter a reception area called the Blue Room, named for its thick satin drapes.
0:56.6	The 54-year-old queen arrives, wearing a lavender gown and limping slightly, still bothered
1:02.1	by a childhood injury.
1:04.2	She then sits at a head of a long table, and nods for you and three other newly appointed
1:08.5	ministers to join you.
1:10.2	Did you hear that crowd outside, gentlemen?
1:12.4	They're expecting me to announce the passage of a new replacement constitution and restore
1:16.7	the Hawaiian people's right to vote.
1:18.8	You've all had a chance to read it, and I expect you to do the right thing today and sign
1:22.9	it.
1:23.9	Your majesty, why such haste?
	...

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