Historians have speculated that the democratically elected king wanted to be buried in the cemetery to be closer to the common people.

During this procession, eyewitness reports stated that a sudden storm arose, and that twenty-one rapid thunderclaps echoed across Honolulu which came to be known as the "21-gun salute.

[5] A maternal cousin of Lunalilo Miriam Auhea Kekāuluohi Crowningburg served as kahu (caretaker) for the mausoleum until her death in 1899.

[7][8] Her grandson William Bishop Taylor, who served as kahu for the Royal Mausoleum at Mauna ʻAla, would also later be buried within the same lot.

The culprits melted down the silver objects and tried to pawn it in Key West, Florida, where they were arrested for the crime.