Kamehameha V

Long ago, a man named Lot lived in Hawaii.

He became a king. He was the fifth king of his land.

Lot traveled to many far lands. He saw big cities in America and Europe.

He met many leaders there.

As king, he helped his people. He let them use old ways of medicine. He also said no to things that could hurt them.

He was a very strong leader. People liked him a lot.

He worked hard for his home until the end.

Lot Kapuāiwa was a leader in the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi. He became King Kamehameha V in 1863.

As a young man, Lot traveled the world. He went to places like San Francisco and New York. He even met leaders in Europe.

When he was king, he helped his people. He brought back old Hawaiian ways. He let people use traditional medicine again. He also stopped a law that would let merchants sell liquor. He said he would not sign a death warrant for his people.

Many people liked him. The writer Mark Twain said the king was wise. He said the king worked hard to do well by his people.

Lot did not have an heir to take his place. An heir is a person who follows a leader. He died on his birthday in 1872. After him, the people elected a new king. This was a new way for Hawaiʻi.

Kamehameha V was a famous leader of the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi. He was born Lot Kapuāiwa on December 11, 1830. His family was very important in Hawaiian history. He was the grandson of the great Kamehameha I.

His childhood was not always easy. He was adopted by his grandmother and a high chief. This was part of an old tradition called hānai. Lot sometimes felt like a stranger in his own home because of this. He grew up to be a man who was firm and determined.

As a young man, Lot saw much of the wide world. In September 1849, he and his brother Alexander Liholiho went on a long trip. They sailed to San Francisco with a guardian named Dr. Judd.

They traveled to many places like Panama and Jamaica. They even visited New York City and Washington, D.C. In Europe, Lot met many important world leaders. He met the French president Louis Napoleon and the British Prince Albert. He also met U.S. President Zachary Taylor and Vice President Millard Fillmore.

Lot worked in many government jobs before he became king. He served on the Privy Council of State and the House of Nobles. He was also the Minister of the Interior.

His brother became King Kamehameha IV in 1854. After his brother died, Lot became the king on November 30, 1863. He wanted to change how the government worked. He helped create a new constitution in 1864. This new set of laws changed who could vote in elections.

Kamehameha V was a king who cared for his people's traditions. He allowed Hawaiian medicine, called la'au lapa'au, to be used again. He even set up a Hawaiian Board of Medicine.

He was also very brave in protecting his people. In 1865, some people wanted to sell more liquor to Native Hawaiians. The king said no to this idea. He said he would never sign a death warrant for his people. This showed how much he wanted them to stay healthy.

Many famous people visited the islands during his time. The writer Mark Twain visited in March 1866. Twain said the king was wise and very hard-working.

He also loved music and helped bring the Royal Hawaiian Band to the islands. Lot died on his birthday, December 11, 1872. He did not leave a person to take his place on the throne. Because of this, the people had to elect a new king. This led to William Charles Lunalilo becoming the first elected king.

Kamehameha V was the fifth monarch of the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi. He reigned from 1863 until 1872. His official name was Lota Kapuāiwa Kalanimakua Aliʻiōlani Kalanikupuapaʻīkalaninui. He used the motto "Onipaʻa," which means immovable or steadfast. This word described his firm personality and his determination. He is often remembered as the last great traditional chief of his people.

Lot was born on December 11, 1830. His parents were Elizabeth Kīnaʻu and Mataio Kekūanaōʻa. He was the grandson of the famous Kamehameha I. His early life involved the Hawaiian tradition of hānai. Hānai is a form of adoption where a child is raised by others. He was first adopted by Princess Nāhiʻenaʻena. After she died in 1836, his grandmother and step-grandfather adopted him. This period was difficult for him. He felt like a stranger in his adoptive home. He believed this tradition had taken away his mother's love.

As a young man, Lot traveled the world to learn about different nations. In September 1849, he and his brother Alexander Liholiho sailed to San Francisco. They were supervised by a guardian named Dr. Judd. Their journey took them to Panama and Jamaica. They also visited New York City and Washington, D.C. In Europe, Lot met many powerful leaders. He met French President Louis Napoleon and British Prince Consort Albert. He also met U.S. President Zachary Taylor and Vice President Millard Fillmore.

Before becoming king, Lot held several important government positions. He served on the Privy Council of State from 1852 to 1855. He also served in the House of Nobles until 1862. Between 1857 and 1863, he was the Minister of the Interior. He even served as the chief justice of the supreme court for a short time. His brother, Alexander Liholiho, became King Kamehameha IV in 1854. After the death of the king's son, Prince Albert, in 1862, Lot was added to the line of succession.

Kamehameha V took the throne on November 30, 1863. He did not want to use the old laws from 1852. He specifically disagreed with universal male suffrage for the lower House of Representatives. Instead, he called for a constitutional convention in 1864. He proposed a new constitution on July 7, 1864. This new law limited voting to residents who passed a literacy test. Voters also had to meet certain property or income requirements. He signed the 1864 Constitution of the Kingdom of Hawaii on August 20, 1864.

One of his greatest legacies was the revival of Hawaiian traditions. He repealed laws that had restricted kahunaism, which involved traditional practitioners. He established a Hawaiian Board of Medicine to include kahuna members. This allowed la'au lapa'au, or Hawaiian medicine, to be practiced again. He even brought practitioners to Honolulu to record their many remedies. The king also protected his people from harm. In 1865, he refused a bill that would let merchants sell liquor directly to Native Hawaiians. He famously said he would never sign the death warrant of his people.

Many visitors traveled to Hawaiʻi during his reign. The famous writer Mark Twain visited in March 1866. Twain wrote that the king was wise and accomplished. He noted that the king dressed plainly and was very popular. In 1869, Prince Alfred of England visited the islands. This visit helped lead to the creation of the Royal Hawaiian Band. The band was a gift of music for the Hawaiian people.

Kamehameha V died on December 11, 1872. This was the same day he was born. He did not leave a clear heir to follow him. His sister, Victoria Kamāmalu, had died childless in 1866. He offered the throne to his cousin Bernice Pauahi Bishop, but she refused. Because there was no successor, the legislature had to hold an election. This changed how leaders were chosen in Hawaiʻi. William Charles Lunalilo won the election and became the first elected king.