Kahuli St.

In the ahupuaʻa of Waipiʻo, which lies in the moku of ʻEwa here on Oʻahu, stands a roadway highlighting the significance of January 17th.
We are speaking of Kahuli St.
The Hawaiian word kahuli could mean “to change, to alter, land shells,” or it could also translate as “to overturn, overthrow, or capsize.”
The Hawaiian Kingdom was established in 1810 when King Kamehameha I secured the final islands of Kauaʻi and Niʻihau under his reign.
For eighty-two years and over the span of eight ruling monarchs, the Hawaiian nation thrived, marking many historic milestones along the way.
For example, in the 1800s, the literacy rate of Native Hawaiians reached 98% in the 1800’s according to the Kamehameha Schools, becoming one of the most literate nations in the world.
But things began to drastically change when Hawaiʻi’s last king, King David Kalākaua, was forced at gunpoint to sign away much of his power.
That document became known as the Bayonet Constitution.
Following the King’s passing in 1891, his sister succeeded the throne as Queen Liliʻuokalani, only to be illegally overthrown by American and European businessmen with the assistance of the United States, on January 17th, 1893.
In an effort to restore the monarchy’s lost powers, Queen Liliʻuokalani attempted to adopt a new constitution.
It was in response to the wishes of two-thirds of her Kingdom’s registered voters who signed and submitted petitions to do so.
But annexationists then staged a coup d’état.
American troops landed on the shores of Oʻahu posing the real threat of bloodshed.
So, to avoid any loss of life, Queen Liliʻuokalani yielded her authority until the US would reinstate her based on the facts, which never happened.
Later that same day, the Provisional Government of Hawaiʻi was recognized.
Five years later, in 1898, the United States annexed Hawaiʻi.
To learn more of the Hawaiian Kingdom’s overthrow, read Queen Liliʻuokalani’s memoir entitled “Hawaiʻi’s Story by Hawaiʻi’s Queen.”
Did you know? Now you do!