Sanford B. Dole was native-born at Punahou on April 23, 1844 — a school founded by his father, missionary Daniel Dole. He spent 11 of his most formative years (ages 11-22) growing up Hawaiian-style at Koloa, Kauai, where he became expert at konane (similar to checkers) and pahia (a special form of diving).
After attending Williams College (Massachusetts) he became a lawyer, and included plantation laborers among his pro bono clients. He adopted a native girl (probably his biological child) whose descendants are Hawaiian community leaders today including surnames Low, Lucas, Napoleon, Thompson.
His ties to Koloa remained strong. He was elected to the Kingdom legislature 1884-86 from Koloa. In 1887 he led the protest group that forced King Kalakaua to sign a new Constitution. Later Kalakaua appointed him to the Kingdom’s Supreme Court.
In 1893 he honorably resigned his judgeship before the revolution; and then led the Provisional Government afterward. U.S. President Grover Cleveland “ordered” him to undo the revolution and reinstate the Queen.
Hawaii President Dole wrote a lengthy letter of refusal, confirming that Hawaii desired annexation but was not a puppet regime. His strong leadership allowed the Provisional Government not only to defy President Cleveland’s “Black Week” gunboat diplomacy of December 1893 but also to crush the January 1895 attempted counter-revolution which used guns and bombs the U.S. Navy permitted to be smuggled in to Robert Wilcox.
Dole helped create the Republic of Hawaii and was its only President through four more years as an independent nation. Emperors, Kings, Presidents and Queen Victoria, who all previously recognized the Kingdom, sent Dole letters formally recognizing the Republic as the rightful successor government.
When U.S. President McKinley came into office, President Dole led negotiations for annexation, driving a hard bargain. The U.S. paid off the accumulated national debt of the Kingdom and Republic (more than the market value of the ceded lands at that time), and agreed to hold the ceded lands not as U.S. property but as a public trust for the benefit of all the residents of Hawaii.
In 1900 he became Hawaii’s first Territorial Governor. In 1903 he was appointed judge of the U.S. District Court (Honolulu). Following many years of charitable works, he died in 1926.
Dole and Lili‘uokalani were friends. During the 1893 revolution she was allowed to simply walk a block to her private home and live there unmolested, unlike deposed monarchs in France and Russia who were beheaded or shot. Rifles and bombs in her flower bed during the Wilcox revolt earned her a genteel “imprisonment” in a huge private room at ‘Iolani Palace (with full-time servant, sewing and writing supplies).
After a few months President Dole pardoned her, allowing her to speak, write, and travel. She was allowed to organize a petition drive opposing Dole’s most cherished goal of annexation, and to go to Washington, D.C., to lobby Congress against it.
Sanford B. Dole was Hawaii’s longest-ruling chief executive at ‘Iolani Palace (1893-1903), where his firm hand guided Hawaii through a decade of extraordinarily turbulent times. His spirit remains there, and his statue belongs there. He was the last head of an independent nation of Hawaii. Happy birthday, Mr. President!
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Dr. Kenneth R. Conklin is a retired professor who has lived in Kane’ohe for 27 years. He authored the book “Hawaiian Apartheid” available in libraries and through his large website “Hawaiian Sovereignty: Thinking Carefully About it.”
Seriously?! What he did was horrible and unconscionable. I’m related to him and even his family doesn’t honor him. And he’s a “good guy” because at least he didn’t behead the Queen?! How could TGI print such an outrageous article?
I have to agree with Tutululu. In my book, Dole was a shameless exploiter of the Hawaiian people and should be remembered as the white supremest that he was. Not a true friend of the native people and certainly not a hero whose statue belongs in a prominent setting. Portraying Lili’uokalani’s imprisonment as genteel and not acknowledging the true sorrow that was imposed upon her and her subjects seems to be an outrageous “whitewash” of history.
“After a few months President Dole pardoned her, allowing her to speak, write, and travel. She was allowed to organize a petition drive opposing Dole’s most cherished goal of annexation, and to go to Washington, D.C., to lobby Congress against it.” Funny, doesn’t sound quite like Freedom to me, just a polite, delicate description of absolute white privilege… Congratulations TGI, you’ve officially supporting the very same attitude that led the entire Hawaiian Kingdom into servitude, so much Freedom… 126 years of US (delicate, polite illegal occupation shhhhh) has literally obliterated the Kanaka Maoli, resources of water, wai and medicine and 98% NON sustainable. Hawaii was 100% sustainable before the western INVASION, now it is a sad reminder of the glory it used to be. Kanaka and those that love these lands have been working to restore the desecration and abuse that has transpired for the last 126 years. This article reflects on those that sought and continue to DESTROY HAWAII, I choose to remain on the side that seeks to RESTORE HAWAII to the sustainable, peaceful and just Nation that still resides within. If you want to know what is the truth in the story is, you need to check who is telling the story. This one just sells books, not interested in RESTORING HAWAII… I choose to stand on the right side of HERSTORY, not the entitled, oppressive and destructive narrative given here. #HawaiianKingdomStillExists #TilTheLastAlohaAina
“After a few months President Dole pardoned her, allowing her to speak, write, and travel. She was allowed to organize a petition drive opposing Dole’s most cherished goal of annexation, and to go to Washington, D.C., to lobby Congress against it.” Funny, doesn’t sound quite like Freedom to me, just a polite, delicate description of absolute white privilege… Congratulations TGI, you’ve officially supporting the very same attitude that led the entire Hawaiian Kingdom into servitude, so much Freedom… 126 years of US (delicate, polite illegal occupation shhhhh) has literally obliterated the Kanaka Maoli, resources of water, wai and medicine and 98% NON sustainable. Hawaii was 100% sustainable before the western INVASION, now it is a sad reminder of the glory it used to be. Kanaka and those that love these lands have been working to restore the desecration and abuse that has transpired for the last 126 years. This article reflects on those that sought and continue to DESTROY HAWAII, I choose to remain on the side that seeks to RESTORE HAWAII to the sustainable, peaceful and just Nation that still resides within. If you want to know what is the truth in the story is, you need to check who is telling the story. This one just sells books, not interested in RESTORING HAWAII… I choose to stand on the right side of HERSTORY, not the entitled, oppressive and destructive narrative given here. #HawaiianKingdomStillExists #TilTheLastAlohaAina
Dole can get one swift kick in da nuts fo his birth day
If there were ever evidence needed that even Hawai’i has not entirely escaped the mental and factual deformities of existing in a Trump world, this revisionist oped was it. I don’t know what former professor Conklin’s discipline in philosophy was, but it clearly wasn’t rooted in empiricism or humanism. At least the google check didn’t reveal him as a history professor — I’d have lost control of organs I’d rather not.
Next up: how slaves were actually happy in bondage, and that whole Third Reich thing wasn’t as bad as people make out…