10. The Overthrow of Queen Liliʻuokalani
On January 17, 1893, Queen Liliʻuokalani made the agonizing decision to surrender her throne. Surrounded by armed opposition and U.S. Marines, she chose peace over confrontation to prevent bloodshed among her people. The monarchy was dissolved, and the Provisional Government of Hawaii—led by the coup’s architects—took control. This marked the end of more than a century of royal rule and the dawn of a new, uncertain era for the islands. Read more about the overthrow.
