FEBRUARY 22, 1828

GEORGE WASHINGTON PILIPŌ–HAWAIIAN MINISTER/LEGISLATOR/REBEL–BORN

An influential member of the Hawaiian House of Representatives from 1860 to 1884, Pilipō was known as “Ka Liona o Kona Akau”, or “The Lion of North Kona.”  Born in Holualoa, North Kona, on the island of Hawai’i, he taught and established a school there before being ordained in 1864 at the Mokuaikaua Church at Kailua-Kona.  He later became pastor of Kaumakapili Church, in Honolulu.  During the 1874 election, following the death of King Lunalilo, Pilipō actively campaigned for the candidacy of Queen Emma against Kalākaua.After the election, he became a member of the Queen Emma Party joining with Joseph Nāwahī in opposing both Kalākaua and the Reciprocity Treaty of 1875.  In the election of 1886, Kalākaua personally campaigned against Pilipō and Nāwahī. This resulted in the electoral defeat of Pilipō.  Pilipō died on March 27, 1887, in Honolulu.  Joseph Oliver Carter, personal secretary of Queen Lili’uokalani, praised Pilipō as “one of the Hawaii’s truest and staunchest friends.”

Sources:  The Hawaiian gazette. (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]), 3/29/1887. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress.  Retrieved 6/9/2019, http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83025121/1887-03-29/ed-1/seq-1/>.  Peter T. Young, “The Lion of North Kona,” Images of Old Hawaii, 3/25/2015.  Retrieved 6/9/2019, http://imagesofoldhawaii.com/the-lion-of-north-kona/
Photo:  A. A. Montano (1847-1913), circa 1876-1883).  Public Domain in U.S.:  Pre 1/1/1925.  Public Domain elsewhere where copyright term is author’s life plus 70 years or less.