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King David Kalakaua
Articles and information about King David Kalakaua
of Hawaii. Includes the dates of his birth and death,
when he ruled as king, and some of the highlights
and notable events during his reign.
King David Kalakaua
King David Kalakaua
Born: November 16, 1836
Died: January 20, 1891
Ruled: February 12, 1874 - January 20, 1891
Wife:
Queen Kapiolani
When
King Lunalilo died after only a year as king,
the Hawaiian legislature considered
appointing Dowager Queen Emma as the new ruler of Hawaii,
but they ended up selecting David Kalakaua, a descendant
of King Kamehameha I, instead. Queen Emma and her supporters
were not pleased with the choice, because they felt she
felt her lineage was more royal then Kalakaua's. There
was a riot which had to be quelled by the British Marines.
Kalakaua traveled to Washington DC in 1874 to negotiate
a reciprocal trade agreement. He also tried to increase
the power of the Hawaiian monarchy, which angered many
foreigners, who intimidated Kalakaua into accepting a
new constitution, known as the Bayonet Consititution.
That consitition stripped the king of power, and gave
foreigners the right to vote in Hawaiian elections.
In 1889 a man named Robert Wilcox led a revolt against
the new constitution. The uprising was put down, but
be became a hero to Native Hawaiians. At conspiracy trial
he was found not guilty by an all-Hawaiian jury.
Kalakaua was accused of spending a great deal of money
to live like European Royalty.
He and his wife Queen Kapiolani traveled a great deal of the time,
and when he was away, his sister Princess
Liliuokalani ruled as regent.
King Kalakaua died of kidney disease in 1891, while he was
visiting San Francisco.
Books About King Kalakaua
Kalakaua: Hawaii's Last King
David Kalakaua
More About King David Kalakaua
Born: 1874
Married: ?
Died: 1891
Descended from the Keaweaheulu line
Elected to thrown in 1874
he had served in courts of prev kings since age 16
Proud of people an heritage
fewere then 48,000 Hawaiians lived in 1874
His motto was "Increase the Race"
Traveled to U.S. to secure reciprocity treath
to eliminate U.S. tariffs
That agreement was implemented in 1876 and it led
to expansion of sugar industry, and booming
economy, and high demand for laborers, causing
a spike in immigrant population
Laborer arrival led to Hawaii's current culture which
is a blend of Hawaiian and other cultures
Reign characterized by courtly dignity and
sense of elegance that rivaled foreign courts
He planned the elaborate Iolani Palace.
Took three yrs to build - finished in 1882
educated at the Chief's Children's School
intelligent and distinguished gentleman,
scholar, musician, and composer
He was also an inventor
Invention: Improved double screw in 1872
Invention: Improved bottle stopper/cover in 1872
Invention: Proposed fish ram in 1875
He created the 1st Hawaiian order in 1865
He was known for establishing nwe orders and
for bestowing these awards of merit on hawaiian
subjects and foreigners
In 1881 he became forst Sovereign of any country
to tour the world
During his travels he exchanged orders with ehads
of state, and those exchanges were asymbol
of their friendship and respect
During his 1881 trip to Japan King K presented
the Royal Order of Kalakaua to his official Japanese
interpreter, Seigo Nagasaki.
That royal order medalion was given to the Bishop
Museum by Takeo and Sueko Morimura (item 1992.375.001a
in the museum)
See also:
Rulers of the Hawaiian Kingdom
The Hawaiian Royal Family
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Related Links
The Hawaiian Monarchy - Main Menu
Islands of Hawaii
Forum for Visitors to Hawaii
Hawaii Travel Newsletter
Elsewhere on the Web
King Kalakaua's 1881 Visit to Siam
Famous Americans - David Kalakaua
Who Was the Merrie Monarch?
Aloha Hawaii on King David Kalakaua
Wikipedia on King Lunalilo
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