This transcript records a university lecture on April 24, 2026, covering King Kalākaua’s reign (1874‑1891) and the subsequent overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom. The instructor outlines Kalākaua’s modernization agenda—construction of Iolani Palace, establishment of the Hawaiian Electric Company, introduction of electric lighting, creation of a national coinage, development of railroads, horse tracks, fire department, hospitals, and the revival of hula and Hawaiian music. The lecture also details Kalākaua’s diplomatic outreach, including the Polynesian Confederation and his world tour to secure recognition for Hawaii. A major focus is the economic dominance of the “Big Five” sugar companies (Alexander & Baldwin, Castle & Cooke, C. Brewer, American Factors, and Theo H. Davies), their role in shaping policy, the 1887 Bayonet Constitution forced on Kalākaua under gunpoint, and the disenfranchisement of native Hawaiians. The instructor connects these historical dynamics to modern parallels (tourism as a single‑industry driver) and discusses the overthrow orchestrated by the Committee of Safety and the Honolulu Rifles, leading to the brief reign of Queen Liliʻuokalani and her failed attempt to restore power. Throughout, the lecture interweaves cultural commentary, student interaction, and assignment reminders, emphasizing how infrastructure and cultural revival coexisted with political subjugation by foreign economic interests.
Topics
Kalākaua’s Modernization Agenda: Infrastructure, Energy, and Coinage
Details the king’s projects—construction of Iolani Palace, establishment of Hawaiian Electric, railroads, horse tracks, Kapiʻolani Park, and the minting of Hawaiian coinage—highlighting their technological and architectural uniqueness.
Cultural Revival under the Merry Monarch: Hula, Music, and International Image
Explores Kalākaua’s promotion of hula at his coronation, the Merry Monarch Festival, and the role of royal musicians (Nalani'eha siblings) in projecting a distinct Hawaiian identity abroad.
Diplomatic Outreach: Polynesian Confederation, Global Tours, and Symbolic Standards
Covers Kalākaua’s voyages to Japan, China, India, Europe, and the United States, his support for the Malietoa family in Samoa, the commissioning of the navy ship Ka'i Miloa, and the exchange of diplomatic emblems to assert Hawaiian sovereignty.
The Big Five Sugar Companies: Economic Hegemony and Political Leverage
Identifies the five dominant plantation firms (Alexander & Baldwin, Castle & Cooke, C. Brewer, American Factors, and others), their missionary origins, land‑leasing practices, and how they financed and pressured the monarchy.
Reciprocity Treaty, Pearl Harbor, and the Clash of Interests
Explains the 1875‑1887 reciprocity agreements that removed U.S. tariffs on Hawaiian sugar, Kalākaua’s refusal to cede Pearl Harbor, and how the treaty’s renewal became a flashpoint between the kingdom and the sugar elite.
The 1887 Bayonet Constitution: Forced Constitutional Change and Loss of Monarchical Power
Describes how the Big Five and the Committee of Safety presented a new constitution at gunpoint, stripped the king of authority, disenfranchised native Hawaiians, and entrenched property‑based voting qualifications.
Committee of Safety, Honolulu Rifles, and the 1893 Overthrow
Lists the 13 principal conspirators (e.g., Sanford B. Dole, Alexander Baldwin, Charles Lee Bishop), the role of the volunteer Honolulu Rifles, and the sequence of events that led to the annexation of Hawaii.
Queen Liliʻuokalani’s Short Reign and Constitutional Reform Attempts
Covers Liliʻuokalani’s efforts to restore native political power, her petitions for a new constitution, and the ultimate failure due to the entrenched power of the Big Five.