Editing Lunalilo (section)

==Reign as King==
[[File:Lunalilo, by Eiler Jurgensen.jpg|thumbnail|Lunalilo, painting by [[Denmark|Danish]] artist [[Ejler Andreas Jorgensen|Eiler Jurgensen]], [[ʻIolani Palace]]]]
When Lunalilo assumed the duties of the king, a huge change in the government's policy began to form. His predecessor, Kamehameha V, had spent his reign increasing the powers of his office and trying to restore the [[absolute monarchy]] of his grandfather, Kamehameha I. Lunalilo, however, spent his reign trying to make the Hawaiian government more democratic. He started by writing to the legislature, recommending that the constitution be amended. He wanted to undo some changes that his predecessor had made when he enacted the 1864 Constitution.{{sfn|Kuykendall|1953|page=246}}

For example, the [[Legislature of the Hawaiian Kingdom|Kingdom legislature]] prior to 1864 met in two houses: The [[Legislature of the Hawaiian Kingdom|House of Nobles]] and the House of Representatives. The members of the House of Nobles were appointed by the King and the Representatives were elected by popular vote. Lunalilo served in the House of Nobles from 1863 through 1872.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://archives1.dags.hawaii.gov/gsdl/collect/governme/index/assoc/HASH9007/df632718.dir/Lunalilo,%20William%20C.jpg |title=Lunalilo, William C. office record |work=state archives digital collections |publisher=state of Hawaii |access-date=2009-11-27 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111007004002/http://archives1.dags.hawaii.gov/gsdl/collect/governme/index/assoc/HASH9007/df632718.dir/Lunalilo,%20William%20C.jpg |archive-date=2011-10-07 }}</ref> Under King Kamehameha V, the two houses of legislature were combined into one. Lunalilo wished to restore the [[Bicameralism|bicameral]] legislature. He also wanted to add a provision to the constitution that required the king to include a written explanation to accompany any [[veto]] by the king. He wanted [[cabinet (government)|cabinet]] [[Minister (government)|ministers]] to be heard in the House of Representatives.{{sfn|Potter|Kasdon|1964|page=173}}

The King also wanted to improve Hawaii's economic situation. The Kingdom was in an [[economic depression]], with the [[whaling]] industry rapidly declining. Commerce groups asked the king to look at [[sugar]] to improve the economy and recommended that a treaty be drawn with the [[United States]] to allow Hawaiian sugar to enter the nation tax-free. To make such a treaty, many thought that the Kingdom would have to offer the [[Pearl Harbor]] area to the United States in exchange. There was much controversy over this, with both the public and in the legislature. When Lunalilo saw this opposition, he dropped the proposal.{{sfn|Kuykendall|1953|pages=247–257}}

During Lunalilo's reign, a [[mutiny]] took place in the small Hawaiian army. Some members of the army revolted against the drillmaster and the [[adjutant general]]. The king interviewed the troops involved in the mutiny and he persuaded them to lay down their arms. Following this, the king disbanded the army apart from the [[military band]]. From that point on, the Kingdom had no armed forces until [[Kalākaua|King Kalākaua]] restored them.{{sfn|Kuykendall|1953|pages=259–261}}