On the 8th instant I was officially informed by the minister of foreign
affairs that on the day of the coronation the Hawaiian flag would be
displayed on all Government buildings, and royal salutes would be fired from
the battery at sunrise and sunset, and also at the conclusion of the
coronation ceremonies; and I was invited to participate in the observance of
the day, and to request the commanders of the-United States national vessels
in the harbor to join in observing the day with appropriate honors. I
inclose a copy of the note of the minister of foreign affairs. In a personal
interview with Captain Wilson senior officer, it was arranged that the
Lackawanna and Wachusett should be appropriately dressed during the day of
the coronation, and that the former would fire salutes of twenty-one guns at
sunrise, at sunset, and at the conclusion of the coronation ceremonies.
The two vessels were accordingly tastefully dressed on the morning-of the
12th, and the salutes were duly given by the Lackawanna, adding much to the
effect of the day’s proceedings. The national flag was displayed at the
United States legation and consulate, and the United States minister
resident, the United States consul, and most of the officers of the
Lackawanna and Wachusett, in full dress, attended the ceremonies at the
palace, occupying seats assigned to foreign guests of rank.
I inclose herewith a printed report of the coronation ceremonies. It is from
the Pacific Commercial Advertiser, a journal favorable to the ministry and
the event described, but it is more accurate than other reports, and is
substantially correct.
As events connected with the coronation, it may be pertinent to mention that
on the 10th instant the institution of the order of the Crown of Hawaii” was
officially promulgated.
On the 10th instant a number of princes and princesses were created by royal
patent, and a general order of precedence among them was established.* *
*
On the day of the coronation twenty-three convicts were pardoned by His
Majesty and liberated from the prisons of Honolulu.
A state dinner was given at the palace on the evening of the 14th instant,
attended by the diplomatic representatives, and a state ball at the palace
on the 20th instant will probably conclude the coronation festivities.
[Inclosure 2 in No. 50.—Extract from the
Daily Pacific Commercial Advertiser, Tuesday, February 13,
1883.]
The
coronation, February 12,
1883.
Yesterday the imposing ceremony of the coronation of their Majesties the
King and Queen of the Hawaiian Islands took place at Iolani palace.
* * * * * *
At the hour of 10.15 a.m. the King street gate of the palace grounds was
thrown opeu to admit all those persons who had received invitations.
All those who had been invited to occupy seats on the lower veranda of
the front entrance of Iolani palace were seated under the direction of
His Majesty’s chamberlain.
Members of the Legislature, officers of the Government, the clergy of the
several churches, schools, institutions, and the public generally,
invited to witness the ceremonies, had seats assigned to them in the
amphitheater by ushers acting under the authority of the executive
committee.
At 11.15 a.m. Their Majesties entered the hall; at 11.30 a.m. the
procession, headed by the marshal of the Kingdom and the honorable
marshal of the household, moved to the pavilion. At the appearance of
His Majesty’s chamberlain at the front entrance of the palace, the
heralds proclaimed the approach of Their Majesties.
The following was the order of procession to the pavilion, arranged by
His Majesty’s chamberlain: Marshal of the household, marshal of the
Kingdom, chaplain of the household, the honorable president of the
Legislative Assembly, the chancellor, princesses of the blood and
consorts, bearer of the King’s jewels and decorations, bearer of the
scepter, bearer of the sword of state, bearer of the crown, bearer of
the robes, bearer of the palaoa, bearer of the puloulou, bearer of the
torch, bearer of the kahili of pili, the King’s chamberlain, Their
Majesties the King and Queen, bearer of Her Majesty’s train, ladies in
waiting to the household, aides-de-camp.
The choir then sang the following anthem:
Almighty Father, hear! the Isles do wait on Thee,
That Thy hand shall lead our chosen chief and King.
Bless, O God! the purpose of his life and ru e.
Let the Isles increase with souls and joy.
Send healing unto all the people of the King.
Let wealth and thrift come flowing from afar.
Let the nations rejoice in the freedom of the Isles,
And peace and good will forever bless the land.
And the glory for all ages, evermore. Amen.
[Page 550]
Then the marshal of the household, standing near the rail of the pavilion
and facing the assembled people, declared in a loud voice the King’s
accession and rights to the Hawaiian throne in the following words:
“Princes, nobles, representatives, and people of Hawaii assembled: I here
proclaim unto you that David Laamea, Kamauakapuu, Mahinulani,
Naloiaehuokalani, Lumi-alani, Kalakaua, the King, Generalissimo, Ke Alii
Kapu, Hoano, Ka wela, Ka moe, Ka I Kuhaipuhilaninuu, Wohi Kuakahili,
Haku o Ka Poui ana i Moi, Haku o ka Ohiako a me ka Palaoa Pae,
Kukuiaikeawakea, Kama Alii Hanau o Ka Aina, grand master of the royal
order of Kamehameha I, grand master of the royal order of Kalakaua grand
master of the royal order of Kapiolani, grand master of the royal order
of the Crown of Hawaii, knight of the order of Francis Joseph of
Austria, knight of the order of St. Lazarus and St. Maurice of Italy,
knight of the order of the Red Eagle of Prussia, knight of the order of
Dannebrog of Denmark, knight of the imperial order of the Chrysanthemum
of Japan, knight of the Crown of Siam, knight of the order of St.
Michael and St. George of England, knight of the order of Leopold of
Belgium, knight of the order of Vasa of Sweden and Norway, knight of the
order of the Conception of Portugal, knight of the order of Charles XII
of Spain, knight of the order of the Lion of the Netherlands, knight of
the order of Liberator of Venezuela and Bolivia, president of the privy
council of state, the son Alii Kapaakea, and the Alii Keohokalole, is
the rightful occupant of the Hawaiian throne and sovereign chief of the
Hawaiian Islands, and their dependencies, as heretofore claimed by his
predecessors, chosen by the nobles and representatives of the Kingdom;
and that you render unto His Majesty all fealty and loyal obedience
under the laws of the realm.”
Princess Pooniaikelani then advanced and presented to His Majesty a
puloulou and a palaoa, borne upon a cushion, Ke Kukuioiwikauikaua, and
the Kahili, of the King Pili, as symbols of ancient supreme chieftaincy,
which, being accepted by His Majesty were placed beside the throne and
remained there throughout the remainder of the ceremony.
The chancellor then advanced, and standing before the King, said, “Sire,
is Your Majesty willing to reaffirm your previous oath?”
The King answered, “I am willing.”
The King then left his throne, and advancing toward the chancellor,
raised his right hand and said after the chancellor:
“I, David Kalakaua, King of the Hawaiian Islands, having, on the twelfth
day of February, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and
seventy-four, in conformity with the provisions of the constitution of
the Kingdom, been duly elected by the Legislative Assembly of the
Hawaiian Islands in the Legislature of the Kingdom assembled, to the
throne of this Kingdom, and having on the following day taken the oath
prescribed by Article XXIV of the constitution, do hereby of my own
grace and motion solemnly reaffirm the same; and I do hereby solemnly
swear in the presence of Almighty God to maintain the constitution of
the Kingdom whole and inviolate, und to govern in conformity
therewith.”
The King then signed the oath, and, after the signing, returned to his
throne.
The chancellor then advanced and placed the sword in the King’s hands,
savings “Receive this kingly sword as the ensign of justice and
mercy.”
The King received the sword and placed it again in the hands of the
chancellor, who passed it to the noble in charge of it, and he was
ordered by the chancellor to unsheathe it, and he then unsheathing the
sword, carried it naked during the rest of the solemnity.
Princess Kekaulike then advanced with the robe, and placed it in the
hands of the chancellor, who then placed it on the King’s shoulders,
saying, “Receive this ancient mantle of your predecessors as the ensign
of knowledge and wisdom.”
The chancellor then put the ring on the fourth finger of His Majesty’s
right handy saying, “Receive this ring, the ensign of kingly
dignity.”
The chancellor then delievered the scepterto the King, saying, “Receive
the royal scepter, the ensign of kingly power and justice.”
Prince Kawananakoa then advanced with the crowns, the choir singing the
following hymn:
Almighty Father, we do bring
Gold and gems for the King;
Pure gold for the true chief,
The symbol of true love.
Gems of the hidden mine,
Gleaming forth a glory;
The glory of the unfolding Isles
That grow in wealth and peace—
That come to crown their King,
The heir of the farthest ages,
Chosen by the Almighty Father!
To whom the honor and the glory. Amen.
[Page 551]
The honorable president of the Legislative Assembly then took the King’s
crown, and raised it up before the people, and placed it in the hands of
the chancellor, saying, I present this crown to the rightful King of
these islands, approved by acts of the Legislative Assembly, in the
Legislature of the Kingdom assembled, of the years 1880 and 1882.”
The chancellor then placed it in the King’s hands, saying, “Receive this
crown of pure gold to adorn the high station wherein thou hast been
placed.
The King then raised up the crown and placed it upon his head.
The chancellor then took the second crown and placed it in the King’s
hands, who rose and placed it upon the Queen’s head, who reverently
bowed her head on receiving it, the King saying, “I place this crown
upon your head, to share the honors of my throne.”
A prayer then followed, their Majesties kneeling:
“Almighty Father, who crownest Thy faithful servants with mercy and
loving kindness, look down upon these, thy servants, Kalakaua and
Kapiolani, who now in lowly devotion bow their heads to Thy Divine
Majesty, and as Thou dost this day set crowns of pure gold upon their
heads, so enrich their royal hearts with Thy Heavenly Grace, and crown
them with all princely virtues which may adorn the high stations wherein
Thou hast placed them, and Thine the honor and glory forever and ever.
Amen.”
Their Majesties then rose and resumed their places upon the throne. At
the conclusion of the prayer, signals from the palace towers announced
the event, and a royal salvo of guns was fired from the battery and
men-of-war in port.
The choir then sang the following anthem:
Cry out, O Isles, with joy!
With loud-sounding praises,
Unto Thee, Almighty Father
Who gave union to the Isles;
Who gave them place on high
Among the mighty of the earth;
Who hath led our chief and King
Along the paths of the world,
And led him to a throne
Set up by Thee, O God!
In the hearts of his people.
Cry out, O Isles, with joy.
With loud sounding praise,
Unto Thee, Almighty Father!
For all ages, evermore. Amen.
The coronation ceremony being completed, the King and Queen, attended as
before, retired to the grand hall, when the disrobing took place.
Form of procession leaving the pavilion: Marshal of the household,
marshal of the Kingdom, chaplain of the household, the honorable
president of the Legislative Assembly, the chancellor of the Kingdom,
the governess of Hawaii, princesses of the. blood and consorts, bearer
of the palaoa, bearer of the puloulou, bearer of the torch of
Iwikauikaua, bearer of the Kahili of Pili, bearer of the jewels and
decorations, bearer of the scepter, bearer of the crowns, the King’s
chamberlain, bearer of the sword of state, Their Majesties the King and
Queen, bearers of Her Majesty’s train, Kahili bearers, ladies in
waiting.
The King then received the homage of the chancellor, the ministers, the
nobles, the associate justices, privy councilors and circuit judges.
After which His Majesty received the diplomatic corps, the naval officers
and consular corps; also, the police justices, the members of the
Legislative Assembly and members of the bar.
On the conclusion of the ceremonies, the band played Meyerbeer’s
celebrated “Coronation March,” and as the people dispersed there was a
general feeling of approbation expressed with the successful manner in
which the whole proceedings had been conducted. Flags were displayed in
every direction, and the harbor presented an unusually gay appearance,
with four full-dressed men-of-war and twenty-two merchantmen. The
inter-island steamers and schooners also put forth all the bunting they
possessed.
Long live the King!
