Episode 7: Pineapples, Dirty Politics, And One Very Bad “Lauren” - Queen of Hawaii: Part 2

A queen stood between her people and a firing line—and chose to save lives. We follow Queen Liliuokalani’s courageous fight to restore Hawaiian sovereignty, from her bold constitutional push to the moment U.S.-backed business interests seized the throne. With sugar barons lobbying, Marines marching from the USS Boston, and a wavering cabinet, the crown slipped not by consent, but by coercion. Yet the story didn’t end there: Grover Cleveland’s inquiry condemned the coup, and the Kue Petitions rallied tens of thousands of Native Hawaiians against annexation.We chart how Sanford Dole’s oligarchy hardened, how Congress split the difference between principle and profit, and how wartime strategy tipped the scales toward annexation. Through it all, Liliuokalani’s voice carries: a monarch who signed abdication papers to free her supporters, composed Aloha Oe as a nation’s farewell, and spent her remaining years fighting for land and dignity. This is a story of lawfare and logistics, songs and signatures, power and principle—told with candor, context, and a few sharp laughs at the expense of sugar’s swagger.If this episode challenged what you learned in school, tap follow, share it with a friend, and leave a quick review telling us the moment that surprised you most. Your notes help more listeners find the real history of Hawaii.Resources: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1iFJM-yTuP-Y97X24384CRHbdqomk-buG05fgHpvYzCg/edit?usp=sharingFollow us on Social MediaInstagramFacebookWant Our Resources: Resource Library