Overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom

Part of the Hawaiian Rebellions (1887–95)

The USS Boston's landing force on duty at the Arlington Hotel, Honolulu, at the time of the overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy, January 1893. Lieutenant Lucien Young, USN, commanded the detachment, and is presumably the officer at right.

Date

January 17, 1893

Location

Honolulu, Hawaii

Result

Hawaiian League / United States victory

Hawaiian Kingdom surrender.
Queen Liliuokalani relinquishes power.
Provisional Government established.
Hawaii organized into a territory, then a state of the United States.
50th, and last, territory granted Statehood (in August 21, 1959).

Belligerents

Committee of Safety

United States

Kingdom of Hawaii

Commanders and leaders

Strength

Honolulu Rifles
1,500 Militiamen
United States
1 cruiser, USS Boston

162 US Navy and USMC

496 troops (several) Volunteers
85–110 Police
322–337 Royal Guard

50–65 at Palace
272 at Barracks
8–14 artillery pieces
1 Gatling gun

Casualties and losses

None

1 wounded

Hawaiian League / United States victory

Honolulu Rifles
1,500 Militiamen
United States
1 cruiser, USS Boston

496 troops (several) Volunteers
85–110 Police
322–337 Royal Guard

The overthrow of the Kingdom of Hawaii began with a coup d'état against Queen Liliuokalani on January 17, 1893 on the island of Oahu, largely at the hands of United States citizens already living in the Kingdom of Hawaii and backed by an invasion of U.S. Marines under John L. Stevens. They established the Republic of Hawaii, but the ultimate goal of the revolutionaries was the annexation of the islands to the United States, which was finally accomplished in 1898.

The Kamehameha Dynasty was the reigning monarchy of the Kingdom of Hawaii, beginning with its founding by Kamehameha I in 1795, until the death of Kamehameha V in 1872 and Lunalilo in 1874. On July 6, 1846, U.S. Secretary of State John C. Calhoun, on behalf of President Tyler, afforded formal recognition of Hawaiian independence under the reign of Kamehameha III. As a result of the recognition of Hawaiian independence, the Hawaiian Kingdom entered into treaties with the major nations of the world and established over ninety legations and consulates in multiple seaports and cities. The kingdom would continue for another 21 years until its overthrow in 1893 with the fall of the House of Kalakaua.

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