This riot should not be confused with the 1852 Whaler Riot in Honolulu.

The Honolulu Courthouse Riot, or the Election Riot, occurred in February 1874 when Hawaii

Hawaii

Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...

an followers of Queen Emma

Queen Emma of Hawaii

Queen Consort Emma Kalanikaumakaamano Kaleleonālani Naea Rooke of Hawaii was queen consort of King Kamehameha IV from 1856 to his death in 1863. She ran for ruling monarch against King David Kalākaua but was defeated....

, known as Emmaites, attacked supporters of King

King

- Centers of population :* King, Ontario, CanadaIn USA:* King, Indiana* King, North Carolina* King, Lincoln County, Wisconsin* King, Waupaca County, Wisconsin* King County, Washington- Moving-image works :Television:...

 Kalakaua

Kalakaua

Kalākaua, born David Laamea Kamanakapuu Mahinulani Nalaiaehuokalani Lumialani Kalākaua and sometimes called The Merrie Monarch , was the last reigning king of the Kingdom of Hawaii...

 on the latter's election day

Hawaii monarchal election, 1874

The Royal Elections of 1874 were held in Hawaii February 12, 1874. It was the second time an elections for head of state was held. According to the Constitution of 1864, article 22 stated if the monarch dies before naming a successor “such vacancy, shall cause a meeting of the Legislative Assembly,...

 and started a riot. Marines and sailors from three American

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 and British

United Kingdom

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...

 warships were landed and they successfully quelled the rioters and Kalakaua took the oath of office the following day without further opposition.

Riot

After the death of King Lunalilo

Lunalilo

Lunalilo, born William Charles Lunalilo , was king of the Kingdom of Hawaii from January 8, 1873 until February 3, 1874...

 on February 3, 1874 an electoral process began with Queen Emma, the wife of Lunalilo, running against Kalakaua. Emma was not as popular though, compared to Kalakaua, so when election day came on February 12, she lost by a vote of thirty-nine to six and was unhappy with the decision. The election proceedings were held at the Honolulu courthouse which is where Queen Emma decided to lead an angry mob of about 100 followers from the Nuuanu Valley. Since the Hawaiian army had been disbanded after a mutiny sometime before, and the militias were unreliable, there was nobody to stop the riot. The Honolulu police force deserted and also joined in the unrest, even fighting against each other depending on their political sympathies. The queen's followers first surrounded and besieged the courthouse at around 3:00 am, then went for the occupants of other buildings which spread the riot throughout most of the city. A carriage

Carriage

A carriage is a wheeled vehicle for people, usually horse-drawn; litters and sedan chairs are excluded, since they are wheelless vehicles. The carriage is especially designed for private passenger use and for comfort or elegance, though some are also used to transport goods. It may be light,...

 was waiting outside of the courthouse to deliver news of the verdict to Kalakaua, who was waiting at his home, but before the electoral committee could tell the driver, the mob tore it apart. Kalakaua's followers put up little to no resistance and the decision was made to consult with the American Minister

Minister (government)

A minister is a politician who holds significant public office in a national or regional government. Senior ministers are members of the cabinet....

 Henry A. Peirce

Henry A. Peirce

Henry Augustus Peirce was an American businessman and diplomat. Some sources spell his last name as Pierce.-Early life and business:...

 who requested aid from the United States Navy

United States Navy

The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...

 and Royal Navy

Royal Navy

The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...

 commanders at the island. The two American sloops-of-war, USS Tuscarora

USS Tuscarora (1861)

The first USS Tuscarora was a sloop of war in the United States Navy during the American Civil War.Tuscarora was laid down on 27 June 1861 at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, by Merrick & Sons; launched on 24 August 1861; sponsored by Miss Margaret Lardner; and commissioned on 5 December 1861, Commander...

 and USS Portsmouth were anchored in Honolulu Harbor

Honolulu Harbor

Honolulu Harbor, also called Kulolia and Ke Awa O Kou, is the principal seaport of Honolulu and the State of Hawaii in the United States. It is from Honolulu Harbor, located on Mamala Bay, that the City & County of Honolulu was developed and urbanized, in an outward fashion, over the course of the...

, on an expedition of negotiation

Reciprocity Treaty of 1875

The Treaty of reciprocity between the United States of America and the Hawaiian Kingdom was a free trade agreement signed and ratified in 1875 that is generally known as the Reciprocity Treaty of 1875....

 to allow the exportation of sugar to America duty free, but instead their commanders agreed to intervene in a major civil disturbance.

A force of 150 American marines and sailors under Lieutenant Commander

Lieutenant Commander

Lieutenant Commander is a commissioned officer rank in many navies. The rank is superior to a lieutenant and subordinate to a commander...

 Theodore F. Jewell were put ashore along with another seventy to eighty Britons under a Captain

Captain (naval)

Captain is the name most often given in English-speaking navies to the rank corresponding to command of the largest ships. The NATO rank code is OF-5, equivalent to an army full colonel....

 Bay from the sloop HMS Tenedos

HMS Tenedos

Four ships and a training establishment of the Royal Navy have borne the name HMS Tenedos, after the island of Tenedos:-Ships: was a 38-gun fifth rate launched in 1812. She was used as a convict hulk from 1843 and was broken up in 1875. was a wooden Eclipse class screw sloop launched in 1870...

. The Americans headed straight for the courthouse, pushing back the rioters, and placing guards, they also occupied the city armory, the treasury the station house and the jail, filled with riled up prisoners who Queen Emma said she would free. British forces attacked up the Nuuanu Valley to Emma's house where they dispersed a large crowd with force. They then went back to Honolulu to man the palace and the barracks. By sundown some rioters had been captured and the city was mostly quiet with the exception of sporadic musketry and the sounds of breaking glass. Several people were killed or injured in the conflict, including many foreign citizens though no American naval personnel were hurt seriously and it is not believed any of the Britons were either. Emma was never exiled or punished by the Hawiian government for her role in the riot and she remained at her home in the valley for several years with her followers. The riot gained nothing for the queen and Kalakaua took the oath on February 13, after which his right to the throne was no longer in threat. The marines and sailors ended their occupation on February 20. America's involvement in the riot also led to the establishment of the first United States Navy coaling and repair station in Pearl Harbor

Pearl Harbor

Pearl Harbor, known to Hawaiians as Puuloa, is a lagoon harbor on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, west of Honolulu. Much of the harbor and surrounding lands is a United States Navy deep-water naval base. It is also the headquarters of the U.S. Pacific Fleet...

.