Liliuokalani proclaimed Queen of Hawaii

Background. Kalakaua, the last king of the Kingdom of Hawaii, died on January 20, 1891, in San Francisco. His remains were buried in the Royal Mausoleum at Mauna Ala on February 15, 1891, following state funerals in California and Honolulu. Liliuokalani ascended to the throne nine days after her brother's death, marking the end of the Kalakaua Dynasty's reign and the beginning of her rule as the only queen regnant.

Proclamation. On January 29, 1891, Liliuokalani took the oath of office to uphold the constitution in the presence of cabinet ministers and supreme court justices. This event established her as the first and only female monarch of the Hawaiian Kingdom. The proclamation occurred at Iolani Palace, which served as the official residence of the Hawaiian monarch until the 1893 overthrow.

Context. Liliuokalani's memoir noted that nothing worthy of record transpired during the closing days of 1890 and the opening weeks of 1891. Her reign began in a political climate threatened by attempts to abrogate the Bayonet Constitution, which had restricted royal powers. The transition from Kalakaua's rule to Liliuokalani's sovereignty occurred amidst these constitutional tensions.