The Pineapple Coup: How US Marines Toppled Hawaii’s Queen for Fruit Profits

Queen Liliuokalani (1838-1917)


In 1893, US Navy troops invaded Honolulu to overthrow Queen Liliʻuokalani—not for freedom or democracy, but for Dole Pineapple’s real estate portfolio. Armed with Colt revolvers and corporate greed, 2,000 white businessmen (led by Sanford Dole) staged a coup while American warships aimed cannons at the palace. The Queen surrendered to avoid bloodshed, but the Dole family still stole 1.8 million acres of Native lands—birthing a fruit empire built on theft.

The US called it "manifest destiny." Hawaiians called it "the beginning of our cultural death." Today, Dole still sells $4.5 billion yearly in stolen-land pineapples, while Native Hawaiians fight for sovereignty.

(Source: HISTORY - Queen Liliʻuokalani)

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