Kūʻē Petitions

The Kūʻē (Hawaiian: "opposition") Petitions of 1897 were a protest against the annexation of Hawaii by the United States.

In a single weeklong petition drive in 1897, 21,269 signatures — representing well over half of the native adult population of Hawaii at the time[3] — were procured by horseback, boat and foot travel by members of Hui Aloha ʻĀina (Hawaiian Patriotic League).

These petitions were hand-carried to Washington and delivered to the United States Senate by a commission of Native Hawaiian delegates consisting of James Keauiluna Kaulia (president of Hui Aloha ʻĀina), David Kalauokalani (president of Hui Kālaiʻāina), William Auld, and John Richardson.

[4] The text of the petitions is as follows: "To his Excellency WILLIAM McKINLEY, President, and the Senate, of the United States of America.

After receiving the petitions, the United States Senate in 1898 failed to approve the annexation treaty by the necessary two-thirds majority.