In the 19th century, Hawaii was a Kingdom independent from the USA but with many American planters and contract workers until the high living Royals became too much of an expensive liability. So slip on your smoking jacket, fill your pipe, take your first sip of your adult beverage and sit back in your most comfortable chair. Welcome to todays offering from The Philatelist.
It is interesting to see a nineteenth century King presented not in the ageless profile European style, but rather looking straight at you in the manner of an American President. This fitted the American printing of the stamps, but perhaps takes away some of the mystery that belongs with royalty. Well Hawaii was a small place, and the native Hawaiians were but a small minority. The other Polynesians were not interested in King David’s ideas of a Pacific island federation under him uniting the race. Therefore King David is left with his American friends and their style.
Todays stamp is issue A17, a two cent stamp issued by the Kingdom of Hawaii in 1886. The portraits of Royal stamps were reprinted over many years as it was the desire of the Postmaster to maintain stocks of the whole set. After the Royals were bloodlessly deposed, there were overstamps of the issue for the provisional government. According to the Scott catalog, the stamp is worth $1 used.
In an interesting twist, Hawaiian Kings were elected instead of passing father to son. Only native Hawaiians, 20 percent of the population could vote. Once elected, they serve for life. King David lost badly in his first election for King but then served as Royal Chamberlin. Upon his election rival”s later death, a chief’s council named David Kalakaua King bypassing the election. There were then riots in Honolulu and David had to put off his Coronation. There was always the issue or relations with the USA and the potential for annexation. Americans outnumbered Hawaiians on the islands and were the bulk of the economy. A deal was worked out with Hawaii that allowed Hawaii sugar to be imported to the USA without tariff. Relying on cheap imported contract labor, one can see what a sacrifice this was to higher cost American sugar producers, but the USA was very interested in a naval base at Pearl Harbor.
The deal with the USA increased exports 7 fold and brought in lots of revenue. King David and several of his male American advisors set off on a world tour that lasted years. To native Hawaiians, it was marketed as making friendship treaties to prevent American annexation. To the planters, it was marketed as a search for more contract laborers to import to Hawaii. Others thought he was just enjoying the high living or even that he was trying to sell the islands to the highest bidder. Combined with his belated expensive two week Coronation 10 years into his rule, and another 2 week festival for his 50th birthday, there was much evidence of excessive high living.
The last straw came in 1889 when the King was caught taking a $75,000 bribe from a Chinese Tong to license the importation of opium into the islands. While the King was off on another tour leaving just a Regent in the Palace, the American planters decided to act. The Hawaiian Army was no more after having mutinied and the Regent was forced to sign a Bayonet constitution, limiting their power or ending their gravy train depending on your point of view. King David died in the USA before returning and the Regent became Queen Liliuokalani, the last Queen. For the most part she was confined to Palace until the inevitable USA annexation in 1899.
Well my drink is empty and I may have another before the luau. King David had brought that custom back after it had been banned at the suggestion of Christian missionaries. Come again tomorrow for another story that can be learned from stamp collecting