Photo By Menzies Dickson – Hawaii State Archives. Call Number: PP-98-15-018, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=12522403
A Hawaiian royal prince stood for election rather than enforce his right of inheritance. His tomb near a busy Honolulu intersection stands as a testament to his faith in his people.
William Charles Lunalilo became “The People’s King” and also enjoyed the backing of the legislature during his brief reign. It began after King Kamehameha V died without naming a successor to the throne. Lunalilo was the highest ranking chief had a claim to the throne by inheritance. According to a historical marker at his tomb, Lunalilo “wanted the people to choose their next ruler in a democratic way.” That account omits the detail that the Kingdom’s 1864 constitution required an election among royals if succession was not clear. However, Lunalilo was very popular among the people and could have launched a challenge.
Either way, Lunalilo did request a special election and ran against David Kalakaua, also a high chief but not of the Kamehameha line. On January 8, 1873, Lunalilo was proclaimed as the choice of both the people and the legislature. His coronation was the next day at Kawaiahao Church. Just over a year later, he was buried there. King Lunalilo died at the age of 39 from tuberculosis.
That church is now across from the Honolulu City Hall, near the Iolani Palace and the King Kamehameha I statue — all in downtown Honolulu. In front of the church is the small stone building that is the tomb of King Lunalilo. He chose this final resting place rather than being interred in the Royal Mausoleum in the Nuuanu Valley. Again, the marker at the church says, “One of the King’s last wishes was to be put at rest at Kawaiahao Church instead of the Royal Mausoleum. Lunalilo was ‘The People’s Choice.’ They had loved him and he had returned their love. By being buried at the cemetery with the common people he loved he felt he would be closer to them.” That much is apparently true, but it is also true that the King was displeased that his mother’s remains were excluded from the Royal Mausoleum and that may have also motivated his decision.
The church and tomb are a pleasant place to visit if you’re traveling to Hawaii. They are easily located, near a major bus stop and welcoming of visitors. They are also a reminder of Hawaii’s recent royal past and its hopes for the future.
Picha na Menzies Dickson <unk> Hawaii State Archives. "Hii ni kwa sababu ya ""Public Domain"" (Public Domain) ya Hawaii, ambayo ilijulikana kama ""Public Domain"" (Public Domain) kwa sababu ya ""Wikipedia"" (Wikipedia) na ""Hawaii"" (Hawaii) kwa sababu ya ""Hawaii"" (Hawaii) kwa sababu ya ""Hawaii"" (Hawaii) kwa sababu ya ""Hawaii"" (Hawaii) kwa sababu ya ""Hawaii"" (Hawaii) kwa sababu ya ""Hawaii"" (Hawaii)." Kaburi lake karibu na makutano ya Honolulu yenye shughuli nyingi linasimama kama ushahidi wa imani yake katika watu wake. William Charles Lunalilo akawa "Mfalme wa Watu" na pia alifurahia msaada wa bunge wakati wa utawala wake mfupi. Ilianza baada ya Mfalme Kamehameha wa Tano kufa bila kumtambulisha mrithi wa kiti cha enzi. Lunalilo alikuwa mkuu wa cheo cha juu zaidi aliyekuwa na haki ya kutawala kwa urithi. Kulingana na alama ya kihistoria kwenye kaburi lake, Lunalilo "alitaka watu wachague mtawala wao wa pili kwa njia ya kidemokrasia" - akaunti hiyo inaachilia maelezo kwamba katiba ya Ufalme ya 1864 ilihitaji uchaguzi kati ya wafalme ikiwa urithi haukuwa wazi. Hata hivyo, Lunalilo alikuwa maarufu sana miongoni mwa watu na angeweza kutokeza changamoto. Lunalilo aliomba uchaguzi wa pekee na kukimbia dhidi ya David Kalakaua, ambaye pia alikuwa mkuu wa juu lakini si wa mstari wa Kamehameha. Mnamo Januari 8, 1873, Lunalilo ilitangazwa kuwa chaguo la watu na bunge. Kutawazwa kwake kulikuwa siku iliyofuata katika Kanisa la Kawaiahao. Zaidi ya mwaka mmoja baadaye, alizikwa huko. Mfalme Lunalilo wa Italia alikufa akiwa na umri wa miaka 39 kutokana na ugonjwa wa kifua kikuu. Kanisa hilo sasa liko kinyume na Jumba la Jiji la Honolulu, karibu na Jumba la Iolani na sanamu ya Mfalme Kamehameha I - yote katika jiji la Honolulu. Mbele ya kanisa kuna jengo dogo la mawe ambalo ni kaburi la Mfalme Lunalilo. Alichagua mahali hapa pa kupumzika mwisho badala ya kuzikwa katika Makaburi ya Kifalme katika Bonde la Nuuanu. Tena, alama katika kanisa inasema, "Mmoja wa matakwa ya mwisho ya Mfalme alikuwa kuwekwa kupumzika katika Kanisa la Kawaiahao badala ya Mausoleum ya Kifalme. Lunalilo alikuwa "Mchaguzi wa Watu". Walikuwa wamempenda na alikuwa amebadilisha upendo wao. "Kwa kuzikwa katika makaburi pamoja na watu wa kawaida aliwapenda alihisi angekuwa karibu zaidi nao. ""Hiyo ni kweli, lakini pia ni kweli kwamba Mfalme hakufurahishwa kwamba mabaki ya mama yake yaliondolewa kutoka kwa Mausoleum ya Royal na hiyo inaweza pia kuwa ilichochea uamuzi wake." Kanisa na kaburi ni mahali pazuri pa kutembelea ikiwa unasafiri kwenda Hawaii. Ziko karibu na kituo kikuu cha mabasi na zinakaribisha wageni. Pia ni ukumbusho wa wakati uliopita wa kifalme wa hivi karibuni wa Hawaii na matumaini yake kwa wakati ujao.