Hawaiian Photographs

This digital collection features photographs of Hawaiian royalty, scenery, architecture, and events in the years surrounding the coup d'état against the Hawaiian Kingdom and Queen Lili’uokalani (1838-1917) in 1893. Some of the photographs include handwritten annotations by Queen Liliʻuokalani. Annotations detail the scene photographed and occasionally provide the historical context of the location and people during her rule.

Thumbnails in this section will direct you to different genres of Hawaiian photographs: portraits of royal and notable people, life and public events in Hawaiʻi, and landscapes and buildings.

Photos of Hawaiian royalty and notable people.

Photographs of landscapes and notable buildings.

Photographs of public events, workers, military, and people in Hawaiʻi.

Some of the photographs in this collection include annotations by Queen Liliʻuokalani, who ruled from January 29, 1891 until January 17, 1893, at which point there was a coup d'état against the Hawaiian Kingdom. The annotations range in detail from naming the person or people depicted to extensively describing the context around what is photographed, including about her accession following King Kalākaua's funeral, the coup, and her imprisonment following the counter-rebellion in 1895.

Throne room in ʻIolani Palace

Back of the photograph of the throne room in ʻIolani Palace. Transcribed from the back of the photograph: "This the Throne room where all receptions of State are given or held. It was in this room that Minister Stevens undertook to dictate to me soon after my accession, on the occasion of a reception accorded to Admiral Brown, in February 1891. Few days after the Admiral called informally and during our conversation said, my eyes flashed "fire." Liliʻuokalani."

Music hall opposite ʻIolani Palace

Back of the photograph of the music hall opposite ʻIolani Palace. Transcribed from the back of the photograph: "This is the Music Hall opposite the Palace and near the government building - between the two buildings, where those people are standing is a lane which leads to the Arion Hall, a small building which the forces took without leave, after having applied to W. M. Gifford for the Music Hall and been refused. I verily believe, had W. G. Irwin the owner of the hall been here he would have given the forces full leave, but the people were happy it was not granted them. When Mr. Poepoe and Mr. Waller protested against their occupation, Min Stevens said, "never mind we are here and we mean to stay."

Government building and opera house on King Street

Back of the photograph of the government building and opera house on King Street. Transcribed from the back of the photograph: "In this space the Arion Hall where the Boston troops were stationed can not be seen as the car is in the way. The troops were not 200 feet away from the palace."

"Boston Troops being received by Admiral Skerret"

Back of the photograph of troops of being received by Admiral Skerret. Transcribed from the back: "There is a blurr [sic] on the the Admirals face, the one in white holding his hat is President Dole - next him is Capt Wiltse in front is Lt. Washburne - right over him is H. W. Severance Am. Consul during Min. Stevens time. I have a short statement about him in Blounts report taken from my diary. On palace square in front of Iolani palace just a little ways from where the Boston men first drew in line on their landing on the 16th Jan 1893."

To view more collections of photographs of Hawaiʻi during the late nineteenth and early twentieth century, see these other collections.

The first of two photo albums of the Hawaiian royal family, taken or collected by F. F. Jones.

The second of two photo albums of the Hawaiian royal family, taken or collected by F. F. Jones.

The first of two photograph albums bound in tapa cloth and showing people, places, and activities around Hawaiʻi.

The second of two photograph albums bound in tapa cloth and showing people, places, and activities around Hawaiʻi.

Hawaiian photographs

Hawaiian photographs

Explore the collection

Royalty and major figures

Landscapes and buildings

Life and public events

Queen Liliʻuokalani's annotations

Queen Liliʻuokalani's annotations

More resources

Albums of the Hawaiian Royal Family

Albums of the Hawaiian Royal Family

Photograph Albums of Hawaiian Islands

Photograph Albums of Hawaiian Islands