 Lunalilo left no heirs . The legislature was empowered by the constitution to elect the monarch in these instances and chose David Kalākaua as the next monarch . The new ruler was pressured by the U.S. government to surrender Pearl Harbor to the Navy . Kalākaua was concerned that this would lead to annexation by the U.S. and to the contravening of the traditions of the Hawaiian people , who believed that the land ( ' Āina ) was fertile , sacred , and not for sale to anyone . In 1875 , the United States Congress agreed to an additional seven years of reciprocity in exchange for Ford Island . At the end of the seven @-@ year reciprocity agreement , the United States showed little interest in renewal . 
