17. Kaiulani’s decision to go to Washington DC

On February 2nd, 1893, she wrote, “I do not know what to do. I have not written home yet, for I do not know what to say. I do not know anything anymore. God help us all.” in her diary. Mr. Davies suggested Kaiulani to go to Washington DC with him. What possibly could she do for Hawaii? Even the queen was powerless before the uprising. Was Kaiulani powerful enough to be the political leader of the kingdom? She knew she could be. “Perhaps some day the Hawaiians will say, Kaiulani, you could have saved us, and you did not try,” Kaiulani said to herself, and then took a deep breath. “Very well, Mr. Davies. I will go with you” (p. 188). Miss. Kaiulani and Mr. Davies were ahead to New York first.

18. They arrived in NY

The assembled crowd chatted in anticipation. What would she look like? What would she wear? How would she behave? Kaiulani was a princess without a country. The young woman stood before them unexpectedly. She was tall and slender with large, dark eyes. Her dress was the latest style, a simple gray gown covered with a dark jacket. The crowd were quiet as if they could hear a pin drop.

“Unbidden I stand upon your shores today, where I had thought so soon to receive a royal welcome. I come unattended except for the loving hearts that come with me over the winter seas. I hear the commissioners (representatives) from my land have been for many days asking this great nation to take away my little vineyard. They speak no word to me, and leave me to find out as I can from the rumors of the air that they would leave me without a home or a name or a nation.
Seventy years ago, Christian American sent over Christian men and women to give religion and civilization to Hawai’i. Today, three of the sons of the missionaries are at your capitol, asking you to undo their fathers’ work. Who sent them? Who gave them the authority to break the constitution which they swore they would uphold?
Today, I a poor, weak girl, with not one of my people near me and all these statesmen against me, have the strength to stand up for the rights of my people. Even now I can hear their wail in my heart, and it gives me strength and I am strong…strong in the faith of God, strong in the knowledge that I am right, strong in the strength of seventy million people who in this free land will hear my cry and will refuse to let their flag cover dishonor to mine!” (Linnea p. XVII)

Kaiulani gave the speech above to the reporters on March 1, 1893. She was seventeen years old.

19. Deliberation with President Cleveland.

President Cleveland made a promise to investigate what was going on in Hawaii, and to see justice done for the people. Kaiulani reviewed and wrote in her diary that “we are very amused later on when the president did a few impressions for us. It turns out that he has quite a reputation as a gifted mimic! I can attest to the fact that he is very talented, indeed” (White, 2001, p. 204). Kaiulani spent a long time with Mrs. Cleveland who was infatuated with the girl. Kaiulani was seeing the things were getting better and better, and went back to England on March 22. Immediately after she returned to England, she received happy news. President Cleveland’s representative, James Blount, arrived in Oahu. He fired John Stevens, U.S Minister. Hawaiians became vigorous again.