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Primary sourcePhotograph12 August 1898

Queen Liliuokalani in Mourning at Washington Place

Frank Davey · 12 August 1898

A 1898 photograph of Liliuokalani and family mourning the lowering of the Hawaiian flag on the day of US annexation.

This photograph shows Liliuokalani in mourning on the day Hawaii's flag was lowered after annexation, marking the end of her sovereignty.

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Black and white group photograph of about twenty formally dressed people in an ornate room with a patterned carpet, plants and garlands, and a chandelier. A seated woman in dark mourning dress holds a bouquet in the center, surrounded by standing men and women in dark and white clothing.
Frank Davey, photograph of Queen Liliuokalani and family in mourning, 12 August 1898. Hawaiian Historical Society.

About this source

What it is

This photograph, taken by Frank Davey on August 12, 1898, shows Queen Liliuokalani seated with Princess Kaiulani, Prince David Kawananakoa, Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalanianaole, and household members at Washington Place. It was taken on the day the Hawaiian flag was lowered for the last time after annexation.

Why it matters

The image captures a moment of collective grief among Hawaiian royalty as their nation's independence ended. Liliuokalani is shown holding flowers, surrounded by family and staff, in a scene that documents both private mourning and public political loss.

Look closer

  • What does the formal, darkened clothing of the group suggest about the mood of the day?
  • Why might the photographer have wanted to record this particular moment?
  • What does the setting, including the portrait in the background, tell you about the family's history?

This photograph is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Queen Liliʻuokalani on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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