On This Day: In 1993 the U.S. Congress passed, and President Bill Clinton signed, Public Law 103-150, which was an attempt to apologize for the overthrow of the Kingdom of Hawaii. During the late 19th century, wealthy American settlers established large sugar, cattle, and other plantations in the Hawaiian Islands (then known as the Sandwich Islands). When Native Hawaiian supporters of Queen Liliuokalani attempted to confirm their independence through a new constitution in 1893, the settlers responded with a coup, supported by the United States, which quickly annexed the islands. One hundred years later, a resolution of Congress apologized for these events. However, for Native Hawaiians, the apology is not enough, and their demands for sovereignty, self-determination, and the return of the Hawaiian Islands to Native rule continues.