Read this article in ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi
The 17th of January 1893 is a day of injustice for Hawaiians as the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi was overthrown by rebels and traitors of the government.
They named themselves the Committee of Safety but if we follow the crime trail, as treason was a crime, then the “safety” they sought was the protecting of their wealth. Their work was that of plotting treason. Their treasonous act was that of a traitor.
Evidence of their crime surfaced 20 years after the overthrow. Some missiles were uncovered at the home of Mr. W. J. Morgan on 1319 Queen Emma Street. Morgan was a member of the “Committee of Safety.” His home was where the episcopal Church of St. Peters is located. On the other side are the old grounds of Keōua Hale, the palace that Princess Ruth built.
The missiles that were unearthed were 20 or so inches. They were found when they were digging to lay a sewer pipe. According to residents who lived there at the time, they were brought secretly from the American warship, the Boston, to Morganʻs house. If need be, Morgan could supply rebels when the American soldiers were deployed. This secreting away of the missiles is evidence of the treacherous crime. This is why Morgan hid the weapons on his property.
Here is yet another story following clues of a crime. On the 17th of January, 1893, a horse-drawn wagon was parked outside the store of Mr. Hall. The wagon was spotted by an officer of the government conducting his duties. The wagon escaped and he (Leialoha) chased the guilty party. According to some, a person on the wagon turned and shot Leialoha. John Good was the name of the foreigner who murdered the officer.
The wagon with its weapons arrived, nevertheless, at Manamana. At 4:00 p.m., they marched with their guns to the government building. These riotous rebels named themselves “Committee for the Peace of the Populace.” This name is rather ironic, as the peace being treacherously sought was the safety of the wealth of foreigners.
Due to the treasonous plot, Liliʻuokalani protested with these words:
“I, LILIUOKALANI, with the grace of God, and according to the Constitution of the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi, QUEEN, in this do protest any act or acts performed against me and the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi as declared by certain persons urging a Provisional Government for a time for this Kingdom.
“I hereby yield to the superior forces of the United States of America to whom is represented by the Minister Plenipotentiary, his Excellence John L. Stevens, who ordered soldiers of the United States of America stationed at Honolulu, and who declared support for this Provisional Government for the time stated.” (Hawaii Holomua, January 18, 1893).
