Liliʻuokalani's Privy Council of State

Liliʻuokalani

Following the January 20, 1891 death of King Kalākaua in San Francisco, his embalmed body
arrived at Honolulu Harbor aboard the USS Charleston, draped in black with its ensigns at half
mast.[1] His sister Liliʻuokalani was designated his successor.[2]
The Privy Council of State of the Kingdom of Hawaii was a constitutionally-created body
purposed to advise and consent to acts made by the monarch. The cabinet ministers were ex-
officio members. Other privy counselors were appointed by the monarch according to his (or her)
personal wishes.[3] At an emergency meeting of Kalākaua's privy council and justices of the
supreme court, they were in accord that Liliuokalani be installed as monarch on January 29. She
did not wish to discuss affairs of state during the period of mourning, but reluctantly acquiesced,
and was given the oath of office by Hawaii Supreme Court Chief Justice Albert Francis Judd. Her
husband John Owen Dominis was given the title of Prince Consort.[4][5][6]
The 1887 Constitution of the Kingdom of Hawaii had made a key change in regards to the
cabinet ministers. The monarch was still empowered to appoint the ministers, but only the
legislature, or a voluntary resignation, could remove them from office. After her brother's funeral,
the queen demanded the resignations of his ministers, causing a legal challenge when they
refused. The case was decided in her favor by the Supreme Court of the kingdom. All four
cabinet members submitted their resignations, and three of the four remained on her privy
council.[7][8]
Below is a list of 57 individuals known to have served on the queen's privy council, all citizens
and subjects of the kingdom. The advisory body was composed of men who were of Native
Hawaiian descent, Euro-American descent, mixed Hawaiian and Euro-American descent, and
one member of Asian-Hawaiian descent. They included the insurgents who would play an
eventual role in the deposition of the queen, and also the political resistance leaders who would
lead the opposition to the overthrow and attempts to annex the Hawaiian Islands to the United
States. The meeting dates and the roster of individuals were gleaned from the Minutes of the
Privy Council, 1881–1892 and the Hawaiian Registers and Directories for 1891, 1892 and 1893,
published in Thomas G. Thrum’s Hawaiian Almanac and Annual.[9][10] The century-old archived
records are often spotty,and should not be considered complete.
Privy council members[edit]

Name Portrait Meeting dates Notes Ref(s)

1891
President of Oahu
Jan 29, Aug 31, Dec
William DeWitt College 1864–1871, [11]
18
Alexander Surveyor General of the
1892
Kingdom
Apr 21

Served with the rank of

1891
colonel on the personal
Aug 31, Dec 18
William Fessenden staffs of Kamehameha
1892 [12]
Allen V, Lunalilo and Kalākaua.
Apr 21, Jul 8, Aug 31,
Privy Council of State
Nov 15
under Kalākaua.

1891
Joseph Ballard Apr 9, Aug 31, Dec 18 President of Castle & [13]
Atherton 1892 Cooke, Ltd.
Jul 8, Aug 31, Nov 15

1884–1891 Privy
Not present in any
Council. Legislature of
recorded Privy [14]
John Tamatoa Baker the Kingdom of Hawaii.
Council meetings,
Held the rank of Colonel
1891–1892
on the queen's staff

1884–1891 Privy
Not present in any Council; Household
recorded Privy Guard of Kalākaua; [15]
Robert Hoapili Baker
Council meetings, Member of the
1891–1892 Legislature, House of
Representatives
George Charles 1892 [16]
1891–1892 Privy Council
Moʻoheau Beckley Jul 8

1891, Privy Council,

1891
1878 House of
Apr 9, Aug 31, Dec 18
Richard Frederick Representatives; 1886–
1892 [17]
Bickerton 1895 Third Associate
Apr 21, Jul 8, Aug 31,
Justice of the Supreme
Nov 15
Court

1892 All Privy Councils [18]

Charles Reed Bishop
Apr 21, Jul 8, Aug 31 since Kamehameha IV

Attorney General
1892
Cecil Brown Nov, 1892 – Jan 12, [19]
Nov 15
1893

1891 Minister of Finance [20]

Godfrey Brown
Jan 29 Jan 29 – Feb 25, 1891

House of
1891 [21]
John Edward Bush Representatives 1890–
Jan 29
1892
 1891 1873-1873 House of
Apr 9, Aug 31 Representatives; 1891 [22]
Joseph O. Carter
1892 Privy Council; Financial
Jul 8, Aug 31, Nov 15 advisor to Liliʻuokalani

1891 1873–1891 Privy

Jan 29, Apr 9, Dec 18 Council; 1891–1893
Archibald Scott
1892 Governor of Oahu; [23]
Cleghorn
Apr 21, Jul 8, Aug 31, Husband of Liliʻuokalani's
Nov 15 sister Likelike

1891
Minister of Finance
Aug 31
William H. Cornwell November 1, 1892 – [24]
1892
November 1, 1892
Apr 21, Jul 8, Aug 31

House of Nobles 1890–

1891
1892
Jan 29, Aug 31, Dec
John Adams Minister of Foreign [25]
18
Cummins Affairs
1892
Jun 17, 1890 – Feb 25,
Apr 21
1891

1891
Jan 29, Apr 9, Aug 31 Cabinet minister under [26]
Samuel Mills Damon
1892 Kalākaua
Apr 21, Jul 8, Aug 31

President of both
1891 the Provisional
Dec 18 Government of [27]
Sanford B. Dole
1892 Hawaii and the Republic
Apr 21 of Hawaii after the
overthrow of the
monarchy ,and later
 became the 1st Governor
of the Territory of Hawaii

Prince Consort of the

Hawaiian islands,
husband of Liliʻuokalani;
1891 1863–1891 Privy [28]
John Owen Dominis
Jan 29, Apr 9 Council; 1864–1886
Governor of Oahu; 1878–
1886 Governor of Maui,
Molokai, Lanai

House of Nobles 1892

Kalākaua's privy council
Created the Inter-Island
1891 Steam Navigation
Jan 29, Apr 9, Dec 18 Company in 1883, with [29]
John Ena
1892 partners Thomas R.
Apr 21, Aug 31 Foster, William
Foster, George Norton
Wilcox and William B.
Godfrey.

1891 Business man, elder in

Abraham Kaleimahoe Dec 18 the Church of Jesus [30]
Fernandez 1892 Christ of Latter-day
Jul 8, Nov 15 Saints

Privy Council, Aug 5,

1891
Hawaiian Sugar Planters’
Not present in any Association
recorded Privy Acting chancellor of the [31]
Walter M. Giffard
Council meetings, French legation; acting
1891–1892 French commissioner
and consul-general;
acting consul general for
Portugal
 Born in England, son-in-
law of Walter Murray
Frederick H. 1891 [32]
Gibson. Sheriff of Maui,
Hayselden Jan 29, Apr 9
inherited the island
of Lanai from Gibson.

1891
Apr 9, Aug 31 House of Nobles 1891– [33]
John Green Hoapili
1892 1892
Jul 8, Aug 31, Nov 15

1891 Career diplomat, office

Aug 31, Dec 18 holder, and military
Curtis P. Iaukea 1892 officer for the Kingdom, [34]

Apr 21, Jul 8, Aug 31, Provisional Government,

Nov 15 and Territory of Hawaii

1887 Privy Council under

Kalākaua
Business and investment
banking partner of Claus
Spreckels and former
California governor F. F.
1891 Low. DBA as Claus
Jan 29, Aug 31 Spreckels & Co, the
[35]
William G. Irwin 1892 partnership circulated
Apr 21, Jul 8, Aug 31, the Kalākaua coinage in
Nov 15 Hawaii and floated loans
to the
monarchy/government.
Irwin was also a partner
of Samuel Gardner
Wilder in the steamship
business.
 aka Daniel Paul Rice
Isenberg aka D. P. R.
Isenberg 1903–1905
president Territorial
1891 Senate [36]
Paul Isenberg Jr.
Aug 31 1913–1915 Territorial
House of
Representatives
son of Paul
Isenberg of Amfac

Minister of Finance
1892
Peter Cushman Jones Nov 8, 1892 – Jan 12, [37]
Nov 15
1893

1891 Chief Justice Supreme

Jan 29, Apr 9, Aug 31, Court of Hawaii
[38]
Albert Francis Judd Dec 18 Cabinet minister under
1892 Kalākaua
Apr 21, Jul 8, Nov 15 Attorney General

Member of the
Legislature, House of
1891
Nobles 1882–86;
Junius Kaʻae Jan 29, Apr 9, Aug 31, [39]
Registrar of
Dec 18
Conveyances 1886–87;
Privy Council 1883

1877 appointed to
Private Ways & Water
1891 Rights. Appointed to
Jan 29, Apr 9, Aug 31, Kalākaua's Privy Council
[40]
David Kahanu Dec 18 June 25, 1879, and
1892 appointed to
Apr 21, Jul 8 Liliʻuokalani's Privy
Council on March 7,
1891.
 Not present in any
Cabinet minister under
recorded Privy
Paul P. Kanoa Kalākaua [41]
Council meetings,
Minister of Finance
1891–1892

Cabinet minister under

1891
John Lot Kaulukoʻu Kalākaua [42]
Jan 29
Attorney General

Member of the
1892 [43]
John K. Kaunamano Legislature, House of
Jul 8, Nov 15
Nobles

1891
Aug 31, Dec 18 House of Kalākaua, third
David Kawānanakoa [44]
1892 in line to the throne
Apr 21, Jul 8, Nov 15

1883 Privy Council; 1889

Capt. King's Staff; 1890,
1891
1st Lt. King's Guards;
Apr 9, Aug 31, Dec 18
Edward Kamakau 1892, Col. Queen's Staff [45]
1892
Lilikalani Royal Order of Oceania,
Apr 21, Jul 8, Aug 31,
Order of Oceania, Order
Nov 15
of Kalakaua, Order of
Kapiolani

1858–1859 Member of
1891 the Legislature, House of [46]
Lawrence McCully
Jan 29, Apr 9 Representatives; 1860
Senate; 1878–1891 Privy
Council; 1877–1892;
 Associate Justice of the
Supreme Court

1891 Minister of Finance [47]

John Mott-Smith
Aug 31 July 28 – Oct 17, 1891

Not present in any

Member of the
recorded Privy [48]
David Hopeni Nahinu Legislature, House of
Council meetings,
Representatives
1891–1892

Attorney General
1891 Aug 29–30, 1892
Apr 9, Aug 31 Sept 12 – Oct 17, 1892 [49]
Paul Neumann
1892 Acted as the queen's
Apr 21, Jul 8, Aug 31 personal attorney after
the overthrow.

Minister of
Finance (acting)
1891 Mar 10 – June 28, 1891
Jan 29, Apr 9, Aug 31, Oct 17, 1891 – Jan 28
Dec 18 1892 [50]
Samuel Parker
1892 Minister of Foreign
Apr 21, Jul 8, Aug 31, Affairs
Nov 15 Feb 25, 1891– Nov 1,
1892
Jan 13–17, 1893

1891
Apr 9 Consul-General in San [51]
Franklin Seaver Pratt
1892 Francisco
Apr 21, Jul 8, Nov 18
 Not present in any Member of the
recorded Privy Legislature, House of [52]
Godfrey Rhodes
Council meetings, Nobles, President of the
1891–1892 Legislative Assembly

Not present in any George Edward

recorded Privy Kekuihapo Richardson. [53]
George E. Richardson
Council meetings, Judge of the Second
1891–1892 Judicial Circuit

Member of the
Legislature, House of
Representatives 1884,
House of Nobles 1887-8.
1891 Part of the native
Aug 31, Dec 18 Hawaiian commission [54]
John Richardson
1892 that submitted the Kūʻē
Apr 21, Jul 8, Aug 31 Petitions protesting
annexation by the United
States.
Son of Circuit Judge
John Richardson

1888 Vice Chamberlain;

1892 1881 Chamberlain; 1891 [55]
James W. Robertson
July 8 Major on staff of Gov. of
Oahu; 1892 Privy Council

Minister of Foreign
1892 Affairs [56]
Mark Prever Robinson
Apr 21, Aug 3, Nov 15 Nov 8, 1892 – Jan 12,
1893
 1891
Cabinet minister under
Apr 9, Aug 31, Dec 18
Antone Rosa Kalākaua [57]
1892
Attorney General
Apr 21, Aug 31

1884 Member of the

1891 Legislature, House of [58]
William E. Rowell
Jan 29 Representatives; 1887
Privy Council

Born in Tahiti, attended

the Royal School (was he
1891 on the 1881 world trip?),
Jan 29, Apr 9 decorated with the Royal [59]
William James Smith
1892 Order of Kalākaua, and
Apr 21, Nov 15 by the Emperor of Japan
with the Order of the
Sacred Treasure

1891
Jan 29, Apr 9, Aug 31, Minister of the Interior
Charles Nichols
Dec 18 Jun 17, 1890 – Sept 12, [60]
Spencer
1892 1892
Apr 21, Jul 8, Aug 31

1891 Privy Council 1874, Aug

Jan 29, Apr 9, Aug 31, 13, 1884 – Nov 15, 1892
Dec 18 Honolulu Harbor master [61]
Alfred N. Tripp
1892 Jul 28, 1883 Special
Apr 21, Jul 8, Aug 31, Commissioner for Central
Nov 15 and Western Polynesia.

1891
Cabinet minister under
Jan 29, Apr 9, Aug 31
Kalākaua
John Smith Walker 1892 [62]
Attorney General
Apr 21, Jul 8, Aug 31,
Minister of Finance
Nov 15
 1891
Jan 29, Apr 9, Aug 31
John T. Waterhouse Served on Kalākaua's
1892 [63]
Jr. Privy Council of State
Apr 21, Jul 8, Aug 31,
Nov 15

1891 Founder of Pacific

Jan 29, Apr 9, Aug 31, Commercial
[64]
Henry Martyn Whitney Dec 18 Advertiser and Hawaiian
1892 language newspaper Ka
Jul 8, Aug 31, Nov 15 Nupepa Kūʻokoʻa.

Minister of Finance
Feb 25 – Mar 10,1891
Jul 28 – Sept 12, 1892
1891
Justice of the Supreme
Hermann A. Apr 9, Dec 18 [65]
Court
Widemann 1892
July 10, 1869 – Feb 18,
Apr 21, Jul 8, Aug 31
1874
Appointed
by Kamehameha V

Minister of the Interior

1892
George Norton Wilcox Nov 8, 1892 – Jan 12, [66]
Apr 21, Nov 15
1893

Fire chief under King

Kalākaua, 1891 Privy
1891
Council, Marshal of the
Charles Burnett Aug 31, Dec 18 [67]
Kingdom under Queen
Wilson 1892
Liliʻuokalani. Father of
Apr 21, Nov 15
Honolulu Mayor John H.
Wilson.