Department of Defense

Robert W. Wilcox, a young Hawaiian who had been sent to Italy to receive a military education, returned to the Islands and began organizing a revolutionary party to overthrow Kalakaua and place Princess Liliuokalani on the throne. For this activity he was exiled from the country. However, he was allowed to return in 1889 and immediately organized a native rifle club, thereby securing a supply of arms and ammunition.

Wilcox worked secretly this time and wedded a number of natives to his cause. He received Liliuokalani’s approval of the scheme and won the King’s Guard over to his side. He even came to some understanding with King Kalakaua about his voluntary abdication.” Suddenly on the morning of July 20, 1889, Wilcox with about one hundred and fifty followers took possession of the Government Building and the Palace Grounds. The King’s Guard was aware of the proposed attack and remained neutral in the Barracks. Lt. Robert Parker, in command of the King’s Guard, rounded up a band of men loyal to the king and they prevented the revolutionists from entering the Palace. No fighting took place at first as Wilcox expected Kalakaua to announce his abdication without being forced. The king, however, merely sat tight and did nothing.

In the meantime, report of the affair had spread throughout Honolulu and a call was sent out for immediate mobilization of the “Rifles.” Com­panies A, B, C and D assembled at the armory and then proceeded to the scene of the action. The insurgents, sensing that a fight was imminent, brought over four field pieces and some ammunition from the Barracks and fortified themselves in the Palace Grounds. Colonel Ashford demanded that they surrender but Wilcox refused and commenced firing at the crowd. A cordon was quickly established around the revolutionists so that they would be unable to retreat.

Wilcox attempted to get the field pieces into action but a withering rifle fire from the volunteers prevented their operating in the open and they soon withdrew to a small building in the Palace Grounds. Here they barricaded themselves and began returning the fire. They kept up an intermittent I fire for the remainder of the day, but as night drew on, and realizing that the advantage lay with the opposition, the revolutionists surrendered. Seven of Wilcox’s followers had been killed and a score injured. Fortunately, none of the governmental forces had been harmed.

Liliuokalani disowned any part in the conspiracy but the leaders of the trouble were all put on trial. Wilcox and the other leaders had become popular heroes with the natives and were turned loose for fear of creating further feeling

– History of the Hawaii National Guard pp. 21-24