The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1902-02-01
Observed at Home
Which the King
Founded.
CHARACTER OF
THE MONARCH
Some Anecdotes of the Man Who
Did Well by His Native
People.

" ING Lunalilo, whose birthday Was
celebrated yesterday at the LunaS
~ lilo home, was born on January
81. 1882. His father was Charles Ka-
naina, and on his mothers side he was
of Kamehameha blood.
Kamehameha v died in 1873, without
appointing a successor, as he was au-
thorized to do under the provisions of
the Constitution in the event of hav-
ing no natural heir. He could, how
ever, appoint only from the chiefs. At
this time, owing to the infertility of
the wives of the chiefs this class was
much reduced in numbers. Lunalilo,
prince Bill" as he was called, was one
of the mobiles. Owing to a quarrel.
Kamehameha " refused to appoint him
his successor. This refusal led to a
meeting of the Legislature. which, un-
der the provision of the Constitution,
was empowered to elect King in de-
fault Of an appointment. The Legisla-
ture unanimously elected him, not only
because he was popular, but because he
the oath of office in the Kawaiahao
church in 1874. Among his Ministers
We're C. r. Bishop. Minister of Finance;
E. o. Hall, Minister of the Interior,
and A. F. Judd, the late Chief Justice,
Attorney Negotiations were
then pending for grant to the Unit
ed States of the exclusive right to the
use of Pearl Harbor. King Lunalilo
was not in favor of it. and the matter
was dropped. He died on February 3,
1874. without appointing any successor.
1t was said that he earnestly desired
to appoint Pauahi, Mrs. c. R. Bishop,
but she positively declined the offer. He
had quarreled with Kalakaua, who had
been a member of his staff, and refus-
ed also to nominate him. But the
Legislature elected him. and he as
,cended the throne.
During his short reign the only event
of Importance was a mutiny or rebel |
lion of some of his Royal troops. They |
assaulted their captain and with two |
guns and a few rounds of grape shot, !
The cavalry, consisting of thirty horse
men. surrounded the place, but kept
out of the range of the rebel guns. The
King opened negotiations for a surren-
der. AS the food supply of the rebels
was entirely cut off, they refused to
negotiate until they had been fed. and
the kindly King ordered poi and fish to
be passed to them through the port
holes The bloodless insurrection ended
and all were pardoned-
IunaIilo was educated in the Royal
school. which had been established for
The sole education of the young chiefs.
Mr.. Amos Cooke was its first principal.
LunaIiio was quite proficient in the use
" the English language and excelled
as a boy orator" He recited the
;tandard pieces of eIoquence with great
yivacfty He was, besides. true hu-
oorist Like his predecessor, he ia
,ored and sustained the open saloon / (
ron, his early years. He never married
,ut the natives hoped ne would marry
he Princess Victoria, who was or high
,irth and with him firm advocate or !
he '.open saloon" Prince Bill was
Lsked once why he did not marry the I
orincess. He replied that they had I
lever been sober together at the same {
moment for many years. When he was {
Inder the influence of liquor he used !
ne English language exclusively
When his father, Kanaina, visited him l
yhile in this state. he called an inter I
reter in and commanded him to trans t
ate his English words into the native t
When his father addressed him in the I
alive language, he required the inter Y
refer to translate his remarks into q
,nglish. This was done with solem- I
ity. On an occasional circus eXhlol- i
ION. the band usually played Goa a
ave the King when he entered. once i
hen the band failed TO play at p. M 5
.rInce Riu arose unsteadily and direct =
a that piece to be played. The band