Puko‘o Bay: A Royal Landing

The 1906 visit was not Queen Liliʻuokalani's first time in Pūkoʻo. She had previously arrived aboard the Lehua at 6 am on September 16, 1881 (on her way to Kalaupapa), accompanied by her husband, John Owen Dominis, and her younger sister, Princess Likelike. At the time, she was serving as Regent of the Hawaiian Kingdom while her brother, King Kalākaua, was on his historic world tour. The people of Molokai gathered in a great flock (500-600 people) looking out for the landing of her ship on the breaking waves of Ala‘apapa. They honored the Regent with 21 ceremonial cannon salutes fashioned from hollowed kukui logs, then pulled her carriage by hand from the landing to the home of E. Jones as a powerful expression of aloha and loyalty. Her stay was short but significant by 9:30 am she was on her way to Kalawao to vist those afflicted with leperosy.

Immediately after landing on the beach of Puko’o, Liliuokalani addressed the people of Puko‘o, she spoke of her brother's mission abroad and urged unity among her people:

"People of my brother and myself, my brother has gone to seek what is right and beneficial for us, for the people of his Kingdom—not for one person alone, but for all of us.

Friends, people, I have come with my younger sister and my husband so that we may meet together. My brother left an important responsibility with me, and he has gone to meet with the peoples of foreign lands. You have perhaps read in the newspapers that the great governments have received him and welcomed him with affection—the heads of governments and the distinguished people of those lands. Their eyes are now upon us, and we are the object of their attention. Therefore, let us remain united in thought, with one heart, my people. Great is my aloha for you, the people of my brother and myself." - Regent Lili‘uokalani