Hawaii's Last Queen

Many Americans may be surprised to discover that Hawaii's history is full of betrayal and intrigue, prejudice and greed; in short, another good old-fashioned story of U.S. imperialism. In this video, part of PBS's American Experience series, we are introduced to Lili'uokalani, last sovereign of the Kingdom of Hawaii. Born in 1838, she was educated in the Western style by American missionaries, who had begun arriving in 1820, and whose power-hungry descendants were to prove disastrous to the indigenous Hawaiian population. Lydia (as she was known) ascended the throne in 1891, but despite her best efforts and the love of the native Hawaiian people, she was removed from office in 1893, and Hawaii was annexed to the U.S. five years later. Focusing on the years immediately preceding, during, and after her reign, PBS has done its usual fine job, presenting Lili'uokalani as a benevolent, though somewhat naive, ruler. There are many photographs of the queen, who died in 1917, but no film, and I would have loved to have heard her voice. Recommended for most collections. Aud: J, H, C, P. (K. Glaser)