Hulihe’e event to celebrate queen
Hulihe‘e event to celebrate queen
The public is invited to a free Afternoon at Hulihe‘e Palace from 4-5 p.m. Sept. 16 in remembrance of Hawaii’s most accomplished royal musician and composer, Queen Lili‘uokalani (1838-1917). Enjoy the voices of the Merrie Monarchs and the Hulihe‘e Palace Band.
The sister of King Kalakaua, Lili‘uokalani Kamaka‘eha attended the Royal School and was educated with four other rulers of Hawaii. She was given the Christian name of Lydia.
“Lydia could read music at an early age and it is thought she had perfect pitch,” noted Casey Ballao, palace administrator. “She played piano, ukulele and the organ — but the zither, which was in vogue in the U.S. and Europe — was her favorite. She also composed music.”
It was on a visit in 1878 to a windward Oahu ranch that Lydia received the imagery and inspiration to pen the song that became the first Hawaiian “hit” outside of the kingdom, “Aloha ‘Oe.” Although Lydia wrote the words as a love song, the chorus and first verse were normally sung and the song became a popular island farewell song.
In 1862, Lydia married John Dominis, who later became the governor of Oahu. She acted as regent when Queen Kapiolani traveled abroad to attend the Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria in 1887. She took the name Lili‘uokalani in 1891 when it was agreed she would be heir to the throne. Her reign was a tragic one, as the monarchy was overthrown in 1893 by American annexationists. The queen peacefully gave up her throne under protest. After an unsuccessful counterrevolution, the queen was imprisoned in Iolani Palace for eight months.
After Lili‘uokalani’s imprisonment, she returned to Washington Place and wrote “Hawaii’s Story by Hawaii’s Queen.”
“In 1909, she set up a fund to help Hawaiian children and today the Queen Lili‘uokalani Children’s Center helps over 2,000 children annually,” added Ballao.
Hulihe‘e Palace regularly is open for self-guided tours from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. For details, contact the palace at 329-1877, the palace office at 329-9555, or visit www.daughtersofhawaii.org.
Once a month, an Afternoon at Hulihe‘e is held from 4-5 p.m. on the palace grounds. All Afternoons at Hulihe‘e present hula by Na Pua U‘i O Hawai‘i Hula Halau and vocals by the Merrie Monarchs. Some events also include the Hulihe‘e Palace Band. On band dates, only kahiko hula is showcased. Other events offer a full hula show.
Here is the rest of the 2012 schedule:
l Sept. 16: Band appearance remembering Queen Lili‘uokalani;
l Event remembering Princess Ka‘iulani;
l Band appearance remembering King Kalakaua, palace curator Aunty Lei Collins and bandmaster Charles “Bud” Dant, and
l Dec 16: A program remembering Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop.