Hawaiian Legends

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William Hyde Rice (1846 - 1924) was a businessman, politician and author. Born in Honolulu, Rice was the only son of two Protestant missionary teachers. Showing an early interest in Hawaiian culture, Rice would begin procuring knowledge of Hawaiian myth and legend, with Hawaiian being his first spoken language. By age 24, Rice had begun to serve the Hawaiian House of Representatives and just two years later would form the Kipu Plantation and Lihue Ranch, ensuring his family’s continued wealth and making them one of the top private landowners on the island. In 1887, while working as a Senator, Rice would help draw up the Constitution of the Kingdom of Hawaii and be one of the thirteen committeemen who would force King David Kalākaua to sign. Rice would continue to assist the United States in the overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy and colonization of the islands by betraying Queen Liliʻuokalani and placing her under house arrest in 1893; later continuing his political career in the newly formed and short-lived Republic of Hawaii from 1895 to 1898. While his extensive knowledge of Hawaiian culture would lead to the publication of Hawaiian Legends (1923) Rice’s admiration for the islands would be overshadowed by his act of treachery against Hawaii and her people.