The political scene is really heating up.
President Donald Trump rallies along the Queen Kaahumanu Highway, Joe Biden people driving by showing their disapproval out the window.
This election is going to be rough for sure, but it’ll be nothing to one they had here in Hawaii back in 1874. That election makes ours look like a little kid’s pillow fight.
It turned into what they call the Honolulu Courthouse Riot. It was so outrageous, it was comical. Who says history can’t be fun and exciting.
First off, people were jumpy electing a new ruler of Hawaii, tempers were flaring.
The situation was strange, never had the public, mere commoners, decided on a king, who for a thousand years had been appointed by the gods.
But an ancient law said that when a king died without an heir a new ruler had to be elected. Lunalilo Kamehameha V had died without a successor, Queen Emma stepped up and was favored to win.
She was wildly popular, the whole kingdom loved her. She’d been their queen, married to the previous king, Liholiho IV. Her followers were fanatical, calling themselves “Emmaites.” They had huge rallies, chanting in the streets for their beloved Alii Emma.
On the other side was a gentleman named David Kalakaua. You can guess the outcome, but crowning King Kalakaua would not come without an all out rumble. Big huhu.
The scene for the election was set. A number of delegates met inside the Honolulu Courthouse to decide who the ruler would be, sort of a loose version of an Electoral College. They met on an evening and outside the courthouse were the raving crowds.
On one side were the riotous Emmaites roaring for their queen. Across from them were the Kalakaua followers shouting for their man, loud taunting went back and forth.
Things were heating up, tempers rising through the night. In the early morning, the two groups were already at each other, and when it was announced that Kalakaua had won, the Emmaites lost it.
They charged the courthouse, knocking down doors, breaking windows, punching the Kalakaua guys. They fought back just as hard swinging fists, it was an out-and-out brawl!
Kalakaua’s carriage was waiting in front of the courthouse. The Emmaites saw it was his and tore it to pieces, ripping it into kindling. The horses whinnying down the street.
The Honolulu police were called but when they arrived they broke into factions, half the police were for Emma and the other for Kalakaua. Queen Emma cops started bashing Kalakaua followers, and vice versa. It was nuts.
Finally, the local American Marines and British Navy men were called in and started calming down the cops and crowds. Soon it was just another peaceful day in paradise.
King Kalakaua had to sneak back into town and was crowned in a secret ceremony in a church. He eventually came out of hiding to become a great king.
We hope that when our president is announced there won’t be a similar reaction. We can only hope.
Dennis Gregory writes a bi-weekly column for West Hawaii Today and welcomes your comments at makewavess@yahoo.com
