The Hawaii land grab — and Trump's thirst for Greenland

How Hawaii's queen was dethroned by a group of white businessmen eager to avoid tariffs on their sugar exports

Photo by KOJI FUTAMI on Unsplash

In 1887, the heir to Hawaii’s throne attended a fellow royal’s grand party: the jubilee celebration marking Queen Victoria’s 50^th anniversary as sovereign of the United Kingdom.

During her stay in London, the Hawaiian princess, Liliuokalani, marveled at the dazzling jewelry sported by guests at one reception. “There were duchesses with shining tiaras, noble ladies with costly necklaces or emerald ear-drops, little women who seemed almost bowed down under lofty circlets of diamonds over their brows, tall women bearing proudly off their adornment of stones of priceless values,” she would later write. “I have never seen such a grand display of valuable gems in my life.”

But while she was witnessing the pomp of the world’s greatest empire firsthand, an imperial power grab was happening back home. As soon as Liliuokalani and the rest of the Hawaiian delegation heard about it, they cancelled plans for a tour of Europe and rushed back.

The princess’s brother, Kin…