January 10, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Lynette Cruz
Phone 284-3460

A Commemoration of Sovereign Sunday

114 Years After the Overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom

On January 16, 1893, United States diplomatic and military personnel
conspired with a small group of individuals to overthrow the
constitutional government of the Hawaiian Kingdom. Under the
direction of the American Minister, John L. Stevens, U.S. Marines
were directed to land at Honolulu Harbor, ostensibly to protect
American lives and property. This action led to the subversion of
the constitutional Government of Hawaii in the interests of
annexation to the United States.

The following is an excerpt from a paper written by Poka Laenui in
1984 that is timely today:

"The movement began with the awakening of my spirit when I read Queen
Liliuokalani's Hawaii's Story. I read first with curiosity, followed
by confusion, then much anger, and finally resolve of what needed to
be done. Here is what I discovered of Hawaii's history.

On January 16, 1893, over 160 American marines landed in peaceful
Honolulu armed with Gatling gun, Howitzer cannons, double cartridge
belts filled with ammunition, carbines and other instruments of war.
The protest by Hawaii's Queen that such landing was a breach of
treaty and international law was simply ignored. The troops marched
along the streets of Honolulu, rifles facing the Queen's palace.

The following day, the resident conspirators numbering 18, mostly
Americans, sneaked to a government building a few yards from where
the American troops lodged the night before. There, an American
lawyer, who had been a resident of Hawaii less than a year previous,
proclaimed they were now the government of Hawaii. Calling
themselves the
"provisional government" and selecting Sanford Dole president, they
were to exist for the explicit purpose and until terms could be
arranged with the U.S. for annexation.

Before the full declaration had been read, the U.S. marines marched
into the building to protect and support them. American Minister
Plenipotentiary and commander of all U.S. forces in Hawaii, John L.
Stevens, gave them immediate recognition as the government of Hawaii
as had been planned. He than joined in their demand that the Queen
surrender under threat of war with the U.S."

This year, the commemoration of the overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom
will take place on Sunday, Jan. 14, beginning at `Iolani Palace and
continuing to Queen Lili`uokalani's statue at the State Capitol. All
are invited to offer ho`okupu at the Palace near the Queen's bedroom
at 3:30 pm. A short walk will follow to the Queen's statue for the
rest of the program at 4 pm. It is the intention of the Living
Nation to forever tell this story.

The event will feature music by Pekelo, from Maui, who has written a
song about the Queen, speakers, a reading of Grover Cleveland's
speech before Congress following the overthrow in 1893, and a
re-enactment of the drama "Ka Lei Maile Alii-The Queen's Women",
depicting a meeting of the women of Hui Aloha Aina who were
responsible for gathering many of the signatures on the Great
Petitions (Ku`e Petitions) protesting annexation of Hawaii to the
United States.

Participants are asked to bring folding chairs or mats to sit on and
refreshments to share. For more information, call 284-3460 or
284-8722.

For more information about this important event, visit
<www.hawaiiankingdom.org/>www.H...om.org. Citation
from Poka Laenui can be found at
<www.opihi.com/sovereignty...overeig.txt.