There were two claimants to the throne: David Kalakaua 
and William Charles Lunalilo. Although Kalakaua had descended 
from highborn chiefs, it was clear that Lunalilo 
had the more impressive bloodlines. 

When the special election was held on January 1, 1873, 
Lunalilo was nearly  a unanimous choice over Kalakaua. 
The next day, he walked to Kawaiahao Church 
in Honolulu to take the oath of office. 
     
 He wanted to be the people's king and he earned that title fast. 
He only ruled for a year before tuberculosis killed him. 
He abolished the law that made property ownership a precondition 
to the right to vote. According to his will, all of his massive land holdings 
were sold after his death and the Lunalilo Home for aged Hawaiians 
was built using the funds. 

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