Honoring Our Queen Lili`uokalani & Our Ancestors Who Protested Annexation of Hawai`i to the United States.

Photos: Lynette Cruz

Download the event brochure here.

Approximately 1800 signs were displayed to honor those men and women who, in 1897, following the illegal overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom, signed their names to a petition opposing the annexation of Hawai`i to the United States.

Queen Lili`uokalani was in Washington D.C. at the time, advocating against passage of the Treaty of Annexation
submitted by representatives of the Republic of Hawai`i. She called for the citizenry of Hawai`i to make their voices heard via petition, and they responded nearly unanimously.

The citizenry numbered approximately 40,000 at the time, and the two petitions together included more than 39,000 signatures, a huge testament to the desire of Hawaiians to maintain and support their Queen and country.

These petitions were then presented to the U.S. Senate in 1897 when the issue of the annexation of Hawai`i to the U.S. came to the floor. Because of opposition voiced by the people, the treaty, in its second attempt, failed.

The petitions were retrieved from the U.S. National Archives in Washington DC and brought back to Hawaii by Dr. Noenoe Silva in 1997. They were first presented to the public on January 17, 1998 during the Sovereign Sunday event at `Iolani Palace grounds.

About Ka Lei Maile Ali`i Hawaiian Civic Club and Hawaiian Independence Action Alliance, the sponsors of this project: Ka Lei Maile Ali`i (KLMA) Hawaiian Civic Club was founded in 2003. The club’s mission is to honor the life and work of Queen Lili`uokalani, Hawai`i’s last reigning monarch. The Hawaiian Independence Action Alliance (HIAA) was formed in December 2008 to call attention to Hawaii’s continued independence, to push for de-occupation of Hawai`i, and to oppose federal recognition by the United States.