Lunalilo's Era
Pre Lunalilo
Previous to Lunalilo’s reign the Native Hawaiian population decreased from 400,000 to 56,897 in 1872.One of causes of the decrease of the Native Hawaiian population was the change in land tenure. The Great Mahele act of 1848 completely changed the governance of land ownership. The Great Mahele results in only 0.8% of lands going to 30% of Hawaiians. Hawaiians did not have a concept of land ownership in their culture. The Gods owned everything, and their role was a kuleana or right to cultivate and live on the land and share resources. The Great Mahele (land division) of 1848 instituted a system of private property ownership that ended the traditional land system (1). The Great Mahele completely changed the traditional Native Hawaiian ahupua’a or land division system which directly affected the general health and welfare of the Native Hawaiian population.
Another cause in the decrease of the Native Hawaiian population came from the diseases brought by the European settlers. For instance in 1804, the cholera or typhoid epidemic killed an estimated 15,000. Additionally, between the years of 1853 and 1854 an outbreak of small pox killed around 7,000 lives. Also during this time, Hansen’s disease or leprosy in Molokai became a continuous source of illness starting in 1866 and continuing long after King Lunalilo’s reign (1). These diseases were slowly eradicating the Native Hawaiian population. The decline in the population of native Hawaiians became a serious labor problem as foreign-introduced sugar and pineapple plantations began to grow and flourish. When the shortage became critical in the mid-1800's the Hawaiian government supported the recruitment and importation of laborers from abroad. This resulted in a flood of more than 250,000 foreign laborers. The majority were from Japan, China, and Portugal and, after the turn of the century, from Korea and the Philippines(2).
Another cause in the decrease of the Native Hawaiian population came from the diseases brought by the European settlers. For instance in 1804, the cholera or typhoid epidemic killed an estimated 15,000. Additionally, between the years of 1853 and 1854 an outbreak of small pox killed around 7,000 lives. Also during this time, Hansen’s disease or leprosy in Molokai became a continuous source of illness starting in 1866 and continuing long after King Lunalilo’s reign (1). These diseases were slowly eradicating the Native Hawaiian population. The decline in the population of native Hawaiians became a serious labor problem as foreign-introduced sugar and pineapple plantations began to grow and flourish. When the shortage became critical in the mid-1800's the Hawaiian government supported the recruitment and importation of laborers from abroad. This resulted in a flood of more than 250,000 foreign laborers. The majority were from Japan, China, and Portugal and, after the turn of the century, from Korea and the Philippines(2).
Lunalilo's Reign
Lunalilo was the shortest reigning monarch, his time as king was from 1873 to 1874. Lunalilo’s served at a time of great adversity, a time of constant power struggle between the Native Hawaiians and foreign investors. The lack of crop production from 1872 caused sugar investors like Henry Whitney to request more land. This made Henry White and his military affiliates General John M. Schofield, and Brevet Brigadier to propose a contract to lease Pearl Harbor for fifty years in return for duty free access to American sugar. At the very mention of a cession of Hawaiian soil the native population of Honolulu burst into uproar. Crowds met on the streets and in the two big native churches of the town, Kawaiahao and Kaumakapili to spill out their bitterness. The Hawaiians knew about the alleged commercial benefits of reciprocity but it was not in them to analytical about anything like a cession (4). After these protest arose against ceding territory to a foreign country, the legislature and the king took back the proposal, and the United States did not obtain these naval rights until fifteen years later (4). The mutiny that occurred against the ceding of Pearl Harbor demonstrates the type power struggles that occurred during King Lunalilo’s reign.
Similar to his predecessors King Kamehameha IV and his wife Queen Emma, King Lunalilo was deeply concerned about the plight of the Hawaiian people. During his lifetime, he had witnessed a rapid decline in population due to the devastating effects of foreign diseases to which the Hawaiian people had no immunities. King Lunalilo took a special interest in the elderly Native Hawaiian population, Lunalilo wanted to provide a safe and nurturing environment for kupuna.(6). Before his death from tubercolosis in 1874, Lunalilo formed a trust that would later become the Lunalilo Home. Lunalilo had the foresight to that Native Hawaiian elderly community needed support with all the changes that were occurring in Hawaii. In an effort to combat the decreasing native Hawaiian population and shifts in government Lunalilo enacted the one the first charitable trust established by a monarch for his people .The purpose of the trust was to build a home to accommodate the poor, destitute, and inform people of Hawaiian (aboriginal) blood or extraction, with preference given to older people (3).
Similar to his predecessors King Kamehameha IV and his wife Queen Emma, King Lunalilo was deeply concerned about the plight of the Hawaiian people. During his lifetime, he had witnessed a rapid decline in population due to the devastating effects of foreign diseases to which the Hawaiian people had no immunities. King Lunalilo took a special interest in the elderly Native Hawaiian population, Lunalilo wanted to provide a safe and nurturing environment for kupuna.(6). Before his death from tubercolosis in 1874, Lunalilo formed a trust that would later become the Lunalilo Home. Lunalilo had the foresight to that Native Hawaiian elderly community needed support with all the changes that were occurring in Hawaii. In an effort to combat the decreasing native Hawaiian population and shifts in government Lunalilo enacted the one the first charitable trust established by a monarch for his people .The purpose of the trust was to build a home to accommodate the poor, destitute, and inform people of Hawaiian (aboriginal) blood or extraction, with preference given to older people (3).
Lunalilo Home
As mentioned earlier, Lunalilo cared about elderly and wanted to provide something permanent to meet their needs. The Lunalilo Home was founded in 1881 occupied in 1883 housed 50 people, and was located in Honolulu where Roosevelt High School now stands. The land was inherited from his mother and confirmed as Lunalilo’s in the Mahele. The land was composed of 33 ahapua’a 9 ili. The Lunalino Home was later moved due to the growth of the city (Honolulu) had changed the surrounding land into a residential neighborhood. Also the home was in a decrepit state and there were many fears for the residents lives because of passing automobiles. The trustees began to look for a new place to move the Lunalilo Home. In 1927 the trustees located twenty acres in Maunaloa by Koko Head. The residents were moved in February of 1928 to the second Lunalilo Home in Hawaii Kai near Koko Head were the home remains today (5). The Lunalilo Home is beginning to rise above the financial handicaps of the past (5). Currently Lunalilo Home provides elderly services which includes Adult Day Care, Respite, and home meal deliveries. While continuing to focus on serving Native Hawaiian elders, the Home has also opened its doors and services to non-Hawaiians (3). The Lunalilo Home continues to function today as a useful memorial to the generosity and kindheartedness of the first elected king (4).
References
1. Hawaii history post contact. (2011). Retrieved from http://www.alternative-hawaii.com/hacul/history1.html
2. Hope, B., & Hope, J. (n.d.). Native Hawaiian Health in Hawaii: Historical Highlights. www.hawaii.edu. Retrieved November 21, 2012, from http://www.hawaii.edu/hivandaids/Native
3. Lunalilo Home History. (n.d.).Lunalilo Home. Retrieved November 22, 2012, from http://www.lunalilo.org/services/history/
4. Day, A. G. (1955). The Middle Years of Change. Hawaii and its people ([1st ed., pp. 155-160). New York: Duell, Sloan and Pearce.
5. Poepoe, D. S. (1993). Lunalilo Home .The Lunalilo Estate and the betrayal of trust (pp. 15-17). Honolulu: D.S. Poepoe.
6. Izutsu, S., & Purnell, N. (n.d.). Lunalilo Home Reopens.pacifichealthdialog.org. Retrieved November 21, 2012, from http://www.pacifichealthdialog.org.fj/Volume%208/No2%20The%20Health%20of%20the%20Hawaiians/Pacific%20Health%20Institutions/Lunalilo%20Home%20reopens.pdf
1. Hawaii history post contact. (2011). Retrieved from http://www.alternative-hawaii.com/hacul/history1.html
2. Hope, B., & Hope, J. (n.d.). Native Hawaiian Health in Hawaii: Historical Highlights. www.hawaii.edu. Retrieved November 21, 2012, from http://www.hawaii.edu/hivandaids/Native
3. Lunalilo Home History. (n.d.).Lunalilo Home. Retrieved November 22, 2012, from http://www.lunalilo.org/services/history/
4. Day, A. G. (1955). The Middle Years of Change. Hawaii and its people ([1st ed., pp. 155-160). New York: Duell, Sloan and Pearce.
5. Poepoe, D. S. (1993). Lunalilo Home .The Lunalilo Estate and the betrayal of trust (pp. 15-17). Honolulu: D.S. Poepoe.
6. Izutsu, S., & Purnell, N. (n.d.). Lunalilo Home Reopens.pacifichealthdialog.org. Retrieved November 21, 2012, from http://www.pacifichealthdialog.org.fj/Volume%208/No2%20The%20Health%20of%20the%20Hawaiians/Pacific%20Health%20Institutions/Lunalilo%20Home%20reopens.pdf