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Aloha to USA's 50th Star State – Hawaii
By Marius Tecoanta | H.U.A. Blog, History
On Jan. 17, 1893, the ruler of then independent Hawaii, Queen Lili`uokalani was overthrown by U.S. Marines who arrested her at gunpoint.
Why do we have President William McKinley in this post? Because ultimately, on June 16 1897, he signed and forwarded the Treaty of Annexation of Hawaii to the United States, to the U.S. Senate for ratification.
It would take another year until President William McKinley signed it into law in July 1898 as it required a joint resolution of Congress authorizing the annexation.
The few voices that objected the morality of the annexation were drowned by the drums of conquest. At that time, our nation was caught in the fever of the war with Spain. The three months war put United States in control of Guam, Puerto Rico, Wake Island, Philippines and Cuba. So Hawaii just went with the flow.
A century later a joint resolution of the U.S. Congress acknowledged that the overthrow of the Kingdom of Hawaii occurred with the active participation of agents and citizens of the United States.
According to a post from the Zinn Project,
Queen Lili`uokalani
"American businessmen, particularly sugar plantation owners, led by Lorrin Thurston, had supported annexation of the islands to the United States. The Queen had been working on a new constitution that would restore voting rights to native Hawaiians.
A new provisional government was installed with Sanford B. Dole as president. The troops had landed the day before, providing support "to protect American lives and property."
Regardless of the murky past, we love Hawaii, our 50th state. Aloha!
What's to love about Hawaii? Have a look and listen:
If you found the music of Israel "IZ" Kamakawiwo'ole moving, you may want to step into the culture with this Military Success Network rhythm moment:
Banner Beach scene: Molokai Island – Hawaii Tourism Authority – Dana Edmunds