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King Kalakaua and his consort Queen Kapiolani
Major events under his reign: He told his people, the hula was part of Hawaiian culture and they shouldn't be ashamed of it, thereby raising the native people's self-esteem and spirits tremendously. His crowned himself pretty much in the same style as Bonaparte Napoleon, hundreds of semi naked hula dancers added. He was the first head of state in history to circumnavigate the earth. During his stopover in Japan, he proposed a Pan Pacific Empire to the Emperor of Japan, but His Majesty politely declined the offer. In retrospect, King Kalakaua seemed to have the better foresight. He built Ioliani Palace, the only royal palace within the borders of the United States today. A National Anthem (today's state song), with the lyrics written by the king, was composed. Click here, if you want to listen to it: HAWAI'I PONO'I The Treaty of Reciprocity with the United States was finally signed. Close to the end of his reign, his extravagant expenditures and some of his political maneuvers started raising eyebrows. The legislature forced him to sign the "Bayonet Constitution", which severely limited the monarch's power. His successor, his sister Queen Liliuokalani tried to restore the full power of the monarch, which led to a revolt and eventually annexation.