King David Kalakaua - 100 Years - Honolulu, HI
Posted by: 
silverquill
N 21° 17.036 W 157° 49.900
4Q E 621198 N 2354020
This statue of King David Kalakaua, last reigning King of Hawai'i, was placed in honor of the centennial of the signing of the Japan-Hawaii Labor Convention which opened the door to 220,000 Japanes immigrants to the islands.
Waymark Code: WMDRP5
Location: Hawaii, United States
Date Posted: 02/19/2012
Views: 19
This bronze statue, by artist Sean Browne, perhaps 1.5 life size, depicts the king standing, face forward, with a piece of paper in his left hand, held waist high. It is mounted on a rectangular polished granite base about 4 feet high, bearing his name and dates in gold lettering. Several bronze plaques, detailed below, are attached to the base. The statue is place in a circular enclosure about 75 feet in diameter, place in the middle of the street where there is a "Y" junction. The statue is surrounded by stone work, then shrubs and flowers, with a black wrought iron fence and fountain to the rear.
King Kalakaua, last reigning king of the Kingdom of Hawai'i, was born with the amazingly long name of La'amea Kamanakapu'u Mahinulani Nalaiaehuokalani Lumialani Kalakaua. When King Kamehameha V died on December 12, 1872, ending the reign of the Kamehameha dynasty, he had named no successor to the monarchy. According to the constitution, an election was held David David Kalakaua was soundly defeated by rival William Charles Lunalilo. He reigned for a mere 25 days, however, succumbing to tuberculosis, perhaps complicated by alcoholism.
The legislature subsequently elected King Kalakaua who reigned for nearly 17 years, from February 12, 1874 until his death in San Francisco, California, on January 20, 1891. He gained the epithet of "The Merrie Monarch" due to his love of joviality and the luxuries of his office, including the construction of the lavish 'Iolani Palace.
King Kalakaua introduced many changes during his reign, including the revival of many Hawaiian cultural customs such as the hula dance and chants, and introducing the ukelele as a Hawaiian instrument. He traveled to the U.S. visiting President Grant and negotiating an agreement lifting import restrictions on sugar and rice, resulting in a boost to economic prosperity in the islands.
Toward the end of his reign, opposition arose among several groups, and the Hawaiian League, which favored annexation of the Kingdom to the United States, drew up a new constitution in 1887 which the king was forced to sign at gunpoint, giving arise to the name, "Bayonet Constitution." This effectively stripped the monarchy of its powers.
Upon his death, Kalakaua's younger sister, Crown Princess Lili'uokalani ascended to the throne. But, her attempt to adopt a new constitution, restoring some of the powers of the monarchy, resulted in her overthrow and the annexation of the Kingdom as a protectorate of the United States within two years.
DAVID LAAMEA KAMANAKAPUU
MAHINULANI NALAIAEHUOKALANI
LUMIALANI KALKAUA
1836-1891
This statue of Kind David Kalakaua (1836-1891)
was commisssioned by the Oahu Kanyaku Imin Centennial
Committee on behalf of the Japanese-American community
in 1985 in observance of the arrivalof the first ship
carrying 944 Kanyaku Imin, or govenment-contract
immigrants, from Japan to Hawaii on February 8, 1885,
to work on the sugar plantations.
King Klakaua visited Japan in May, 1881, on his trip
around the world and appealed to Emporer Meiji to send
immigrants to Hawaii to relieve the shortage of laborers
on the sugar plantations. This resulted in the signing
of the Japan-Hawaii Labor Convention. Japanese
numbering 220,000 immigrated to Hawaii from 1885 to
1924 when the Oriental Exclusion Act was enacted
by the Congress of the United States.
The Japanese-Americans, who are descendants of these
immigrants, have bee successful in numerous fields and
prospered here in Hawaii. The King is honored as the
"Father of Japanese Immigration to Hawaii." This statue
is a symbol of appreciation and Aloha to King Kalakaua,
a visionary monarch for inviting their forbears to Hawaii.
OAHU KANYAKU IMIN CENTENNIAL COMMITTEE
February 8, 1991
Presented to the City and County of Honolulu
Frank F. Fast, Mayor
Arusa Sean Browne
KING KALAKAUA
David Kalakaua was born on November 16, 1836
He succeeded to the throne on February 12, 1874,
and ruled with his queen, Kapi'olani. King Kalakaua
was the catalyst for the revival and flowering of
Hawaiian intellectual and artistic traditions that
took place in the last quarter of the 19th century.
He was an accomplished musician and, among other
chants and songs, composed the words of "Hawai'i
Pono'i", now the State of Hawai'i's official anthem.
His motto was, "Ho'oulu lanui" (Let the Hawaiian
face flourish). He was also a skilled sailor and
loved the sea. 'Iolani Palace, the only royal palace
in the United States and one of Hawai'i's most
famous landmarks, was built during his reign.
Thoroughly Hawaiian but also cosmopolitan,
he completed a tour around the world in 1881,
including a visit to the United States in 1874,
the first monarch in the world to have done so.
His coronation took place on the grounds of
'Iolani Palace on February 12, 1883. Kalakaua
died on January 20, 1891. He was buried in the
Royal Mausoleum in Nu'uanu Valley on O'ahu.
"Kukui a mau i ke awakea."
(The torch that continues to burn in daylight.)
Kalakaua family motto.
HIS MAJESTY
KING DAVID KALAKAUA 33°
WORSHIPFUL MASTER 1876
LODGE LE PROGRES DE LOCEANIE 124
HONOLULU HAWAII
STUART M COWAN GRAND MASTER
GRAND LODGE OF FREE AND ACCEPTED MASONS OF HAWAII
1997