Liliuokalani

About the Author

Queen Liliʻuokalani, the last reigning monarch of the Kingdom of Hawaii, was born in 1838 into a prominent chiefly family and ascended to the throne in 1891 following the death of her brother, King Kalākaua. A talented composer, musician, and writer, she is renowned for her poignant Hawaiian songs such as 'Aloha ʻOe,' which captured the spirit of her islands. Exiled from power after the 1893 overthrow orchestrated by American interests, she turned to literature to defend her sovereignty and document Hawaiian history. In her seminal work, Hawaii's Story by Hawaii's Queen, she eloquently recounts her life, the political intrigues that led to her deposition, and her unwavering advocacy for native rights, offering a vital firsthand perspective on a pivotal era in Pacific history.