FEBRUARY 22, 1828

GEORGE WASHINGTON PILIPŌ BORN–HAWAIIAN MINISTER/LEGISLATOR/REBEL

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. Pilipō later became pastor of Kaumakapili Church, in Honolulu. During the 1874 election, following the death of King Lunalilo, Pilipō actively campaigned for Queen Emma against Kalākaua. After the election of Kalākaua, 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.