Lost Kingdom

Hawaii's Last Queen, the Sugar Kings, and America's First Imperial Adventure

By: Julia Flynn Siler

Narrated by: Joyce Bean

First colonized around 200 A.D. by intrepid Polynesian islanders, Hawaii existed for hundreds of years in splendid isolation. Foreigners did not visit the islands until 1788, when Captain Cook, looking for the fabled Northwest Passage, stumbled upon this nation with its own belief system and culture. Three decades later, fourteen Calvinist missionaries left Boston bound for Hawaii, and when they arrived they converted the royal family to Christianity, and set up missionary schools where English was taught.

A thriving monarchy had ruled over Hawaii for generations. Taro fields and fish ponds had long sustained native Hawaiians but sugar plantations had been gradually subsuming them. This fractured, vulnerable Hawaii was the country that Queen Lili‘uokalani, or Lili‘u, inherited when she came to power at the end of the nineteenth century. Her predecessor had signed away many of the monarchy’s rights, but while Lili‘u was trying to put into place a constitution that would reinstate them, other factions were plotting annexation. With the help of the American envoy, the USS Boston steamed into Honolulu harbor, and Marines landed and marched to the palace, inciting the Queen’s overthrow. The annexation of Hawaii was extremely controversial; the issue caused heated debates in the Senate and President Cleveland gave a strongly worded speech opposing it. This was the first time America had reached beyond the borders of the continental U.S. in an act of imperialism. It was not until President McKinley was elected and the Spanish-American War erupted, that Hawaii became a critical strategic asset, and annexation finally passed Congress in 1898.

©2012 Julia Flynn Siler (P)2012 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

“Julia Flynn Siler's Lost Kingdom: Hawaii's Last Queen, the Sugar Kings, and America's First Imperial Adventure is a well-told history of the U.S. acquisition of Hawaii. The central figure is Lili'uokalani, who had the misfortune of being queen when Uncle Sam closed his grasp on the islands.” ( The Seattle Times)

“[Julia Flynn] Siler captures… what Hawaii was then and what it has evolved into today. What happened to the islands is known as one of the most aggressive takeovers of the Gilded Age… Siler gives us a riveting and intimate look at the rise and tragic fall of Hawaii's royal family… [It] is a reminder that Hawaii remains one of the most breathtaking places in the world. Even if the kingdom is lost.” ( Fortune)

“A sweeping tale of tragedy, greed, betrayal, and imperialism… The depth of her research shines through the narrative, and the lush prose and quick pace make for engaging reading… absorbing.” ( Library Journal, Starred Review)

informative

I was moved to research this subject by a clip I saw on youtube. I'm glad that I did. the book is informed and we'll paced.

Awful narrator, good history

The narrator's pronunciation of Hawaiian words is awful and makes me cringe. She clearly didn't bother to do ANY research and doesn't have any familiarity with Hawaii! Just buy the book or brace yourself to weather the narration.

Good background on Hawaii

Gives the reader a great overview of Hawaii history up until annexation. Easy to read and understand and pleasant narration. As many have commented though, the book doesn't touch the period from annexation (1900) to statehood (1959), so if you're looking for a more complete modern history you'll find this lacking. Still a thorough, fascinating, and tragic story of the loss of Hawaii's monarchy for those without a lot of knowledge about the topic.

Best History of Hawai'i I've Ever Read

I loved the book and the performance was strong (but nothing amazing, hence the 4 stars). I've read several histories of Hawai'i, and while the book could have been more comprehensive (what history book couldn't?), I thought it delved deep into most of the important points that lead to the annexation. Give it a read!

good representation of the impact of christianity

every step along the way - pacific islands, native Americans, Far east, where ever christianity goes the original culture is killed and the peoples lives are taken and quite simply destroyed.
the US should offer Hawaii ALL of its land (and every improvement made there upon) back to the Hawaiian people. it would still not be enough to make up for the rape of the islands and the people and the culture.

An excellent foundation for understanding Hawaii

Extremely interesting portrayal of the last 180 years or so of the Hawaiian royal family and others prominent in the government of Hawaii. Shows how the influence of particular missionaries, educators, investors in agricultural projects (sugar cane), and bankers led to the U.S. government seizing control of Hawaii, ending its sovereignty.

Needed book to understand Hawaii’s history, present and future

The very well detailed history brings smell, sounds and meaning to many landscapes of Hawaii. It is a fragment of a long story, but is an important part that formed what we know today as Hawaii.

Interesting

Learned about the bully of the globe and how it's always about power and money.

Could they not find a Hawaiian narrator?

The narrator is a fine storyteller but her pronunciation of Hawaiian words is so bad it's distracting. if you're going to tell the story of a nation the very least you can do is hire someone able to speak that country's language.

Interesting

I must say I knew nothing about Hawaiian history so I decided to read this book when I say it on the Audible front page. I found it most interesting and names I have heard but knew little about such as Dole, and Spreckles were brought to life in the book. On the other hand the book was sad in the telling of the treatment of the Hawaiian people not only with the diseases brought in by the whites but then taking everything away from them. Will we never learn? Now I would like to take a trip to Hawaii and seen the area's mentioned in the story including the palace. I found Joyce Bean's narration okay it was noticeable even to me that she was not a native speaker of Hawaiian but the rest of the narration was adequate.