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The Hawaiian Independence Action Alliance held a ceremony today at Kapahulu and Kalakaua avenues in Waikiki to remember the 94th anniversary of Queen Liliuokalani’s death.
The ceremony was held at the burial mound where iwi kupuna, skeletal ancestral remains, were laid to rest at the site after they were displaced by Waikiki construction projects in years past.
Liliuokalani became queen in January 1891. She was dethroned in January 1893 during the overthrow of the Hawaiian kingdom.
Normally, the remembrance ceremony is held at Iolani Palace, but the historic structure is closed during the duration of the summit. The organization selected the burial site to hold this year’s ceremony to get the attention of attendees of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit. “The main message is to put vision on the indigenous people,” said Bradford Kaiwi Lum of the organization.
A group of passers-by at Waikiki stopped to watch the ceremony where some members of the organization draped lei on a framed photo of Liliuokalani.
