" I have never listened to anyone who criticized my taste in space travel, sideshows or gorillas. When this occurs, I pack up my dinosaurs and
leave the room .”
Ray Bradbury
“Stuff your eyes with wonder, live as if you'd drop dead in ten seconds. See the world. It's more fantastic than any dream made or paid for in
factories.”
For us too- your cultural, linguistic offspring and allies- she has been a fixture of the world we share.
She provides something
both ancient
and contemporary.
She is a great gem
of a great people
and nation
that have given much
to the
whole world.
God Bless the Queen!
Sincerely,
an American
Now for the HAWAII twist!
Unlike other Americans, we of Hawaii still remember our own monarchy.
Our Hawaiian kings & queens ever flavor our experience of living in these islands.
From Iolani Palace, to Queens Medical Center, to St. Andrew's Cathedral, and the affiliated St. Andrew's Priory School, they are still present with us in many authentic ways.
Their names are on our streets, and ever in our hearts.
They are beloved, and fondly remembered.
Their statues grace our lovely islands.
But there is are connections more than symbolic between the royalty of Hawaii and that of Great Britain.
Hawaii's Queen Emma was warmly received by Queen Victoria herself.
Victoria's Diamond Jubilee
The two widow queens sympathized with one other as Queen Victoria recorded in her journal on September 9, 1865:
"After luncheon I received Queen Emma,
the widowed Queen of the Sandwich Islands
or Hawaii. Met her in the Corridor & nothing
could be nicer or more dignified
than her manner. She is dark, but not more so than an Indian,
with fine feathers [features?] & splendid soft eyes. She was dressed in just the same
widow's weeds as I wear. I took her into the White Drawing room,
where I asked to sit down next to me on the sofa. She was moved when I spoke to her
of her great misfortune in losing her only child. She was very discreet & would only remain
a few minutes. She presented her lady, Mrs. Hoopile whose husband is her Chaplain,
both being Hawaiians.... "
Despite the obvious difference in station, Queen Emma and Queen Victoria had both lost sons and spouses.
Both bore the responsibility of the crown.
The two queens became life-long friends, and shared a lively exchange of correspondence.
Emma traveled to London in 1865 specifically to visit and spent a night at Windsor Castle on November 27.
Our ubiquitous Hawaiian Heirloom Jewelry, originated with a gift from Queen Victoria to Hawaii's Princess Liliuokalani in 1880. It was a solid gold bracelet with the Princess' name engraved and enameled upon it in olde English script. Another famous example: Queen Emma's own silver bracelet engraved "Aloha ia ka heiheimalie."
(Very Roughly: "Love for the People of the Fragrant Maile" Hawaii's people were oft likened to flowers. Kaulana Na Pua - the patriot's song of Hawaii, praises the famous flowers- PUA- of Hawaii i.e. her people-
[If you play this song, while God Save the Queen
continues, they make a unique blend!]
These Victorian style heirlooms are seen everywhere. They are popular gifts for graduations, births, anniversaries, and WORN (not locked away). I wear several daily.
Queen Emma and King Kamehameha IV
They petitioned the Church of England
to help establish the Church of Hawaii
We look upon Elizabeth and we feel a kinship, and a loss.
