User:KAVEBEAR/sandbox/J. W. Bipikane



John William Bipikane (died 1908) was a Native Hawaiian politician of the Kingdom of Hawaii and member of the Hawaiian Patriotic League. His name is also spelled J. W. Pipikane or J. W. Bihikana. His Hawaiian name Bipikane or Pipikane literally translated as bull in the Hawaiian language, and he was given the nickname the "Bellowing" or "Roaring Bull" during his political career for his enthusiastic and angry speeches and his behavior which the English press identified as bull-like.

Earl life
Little information is known about Bipikane's early life or career.

Bipikane was listed as one of a number of attendees at a mass political meeting on June 30, 1887 at the armory of the Honolulu Rifles. This meeting would lead to the forced signing of the Bayonet Constitution of 1887 by King Kalākaua.

Mass Meeting – Called to Discuss the Political Situation The Pacific Commercial Advertiser., July 01, 1887, Image 2


 * Hawaiian Banana Company admitted as a partner; dissolved partnership by mutual consent


 * petition to king 1890

Service in the 1892 Legislature
In the general election of 1892, Bipikane ran as a candidate of the Hawaiian National Liberal Party against the Native Son Party candidate James Keauiluna Kaulia and the National Reform candidate John Kanui. During this contentious election, he was elected as a member of the House of Representatives, the lower house of the Hawaiian legislature, for the second ward of Honolulu, on the island of Oahu.

An American tourist Charles C. Burnett who visited and comments on Honolulu political between December 1891 and January 1892 made disparaging remarks on the state of politics and native candidates for office including Bipikane. Burnett noted, "The credulity of the Hawaiian natives is phenomenal, and is only equaled by their simplicity and ignorance." He had neither met the people he disparaged and relied on quotes from The Pacific Commercial Advertiser including this translated version of a campaign speech by Bipikane.

"J. W. Bipikane said: "I am an ignorant man; yes, too ignorant to take bribes. Former legislators have sold their brains for money. I solemnly swear before the goddess Pele and the Shark-god that I will not receive bribes. Some one has asked me how we are going to obtain the new constitution. If we cannot get the Queen to sign our constitution, let the forty thousand Hawaiians send a petition to France, and other powers, asking them to aid us to get a new constitution. If elected, it is your duty to watch me. If I take bribes, do not hesitate to shoot me.""

From May 28, 1892 to January 14, 1893, the legislature of the Kingdom convened for an unprecedented 171 days, which later historian Albertine Loomis dubbed the "Longest Legislature". This session was characterized by a series of resolutions of want of confidence ousting a number of Queen Liliʻuokalani's appointed cabinet ministers and debates over the passage of the controversial lottery and opium bills. The conflict with the queen's cabinet was rooted in another contention over the retention of Marshal Charles Burnett Wilson, a favorite of the queen, referred to as "King Bolabola" by his opponents. The part-Tahitian officer was extremely unpopular with the legislators especially the Liberals since many party members including Robert William Wilcox were arrested by Marshal Wilson for conspiracy before the opening of the assembly in May. Since Marshal Wilson was under the jurisdiction of the Attorney General, one of the four minister forming the cabinet, the Liberal legislators were keen on voting out any cabinets which continued to condone Wilson while the queen insisted on retaining him.

In the first public meeting of Hui Aloha Aina, on March 16, 1893, Bipikane stated in a speech: "I attend nothing else but patriotic meetings. I was invited by Jno. Colburn to attend his meetings, but I declined because I had not lost my civil rights, therefore, such a league is unnecessary. I do not want anybody to come to me and say 'we are annexed.' I'll send him away immediately. I love my country more than anything else in this world. Wives and mothers die away, but our country lives to eternity. My love is now concentrated on my country; life itself is nothing in comparison to it."

1895 Revolution
Arrested as political prisoner. Released on January 1, 1896, as part of the last batch of political prisoners to be pardoned by President Sanford B. Dole.
 * testimony

Territory
Joined Home Rule Party in 1900, unsuccessfully sought nomination but ran independently for Senator from Oahu anyway and lost. He left the Home Rule Party with Prince Kuhio. 

Joined the short-lived Hui Kuokoa Party established by Kuhio. After Kuhio capitulated to the Republican cause, Bipikane expressed his wish to retire from politics.

In 1904, he became a member of the Democratic Party. Around this time, the PCA noted Bipikane "has been in every political party since annexation"

Death
Bipikane died June 23, 1908, and was buried on Sunday, June 28, 1908.

Kuakini Street

Make ia Kamaaina Kuakoa Home Rula, Vol. 6, No. 26, 26 June 1908, page 3

Perfsonal life
Bipikane had two known marriages.

His first wife was named Kalua Bipikane. She died on August 11, 1895. 

She died around the time of his 1895 imprisonment in Oahu Prison and he was permitted to leave prison to attend her funeral. On September 2, 1897, he married his second wife Kahaunaele. His widow died on November 14, 1908, at her Honolulu residence on Kuikini Street.


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Unedited
However, the Hawaiians still resented the 1893 Revolution and haole political and economic domination. Consequently, in June 1900 Joseph Clark, John Kalaukoa, David Kalauokalani, James Kaulia, William Mossman, J. W. Pipikane, John Prendergast, and Robert Wilcox organized the Independent Home Rule Party to appeal to the native Hawaiians. Wilcox was selected to contend against the Re- publican's Samuel Parker and the Democrat's Prince David Kawanana- koa for the Islands' highest elective office—Delegate to the United States Congress. --