Stanley Owana Laanui
From Turtledove
| Stanley Owana Laanui | |
| Fictional Character | |
| Days of Infamy series | |
| Appearance(s): | Days of Infamy
throught |
| Nationality: | United States (Kingdom of Hawaii, 1942-1943) |
| Date of Birth: | c. 1892 |
| Date of Death: | 1943 |
| Cause of Death: | Self-Inflicted Gunshot wound |
| Occupation: | Monarch of Hawaii |
| Spouse: | Cynthia Laanui |
| Children: | none |
Stanley Owana Laanui (b.c 1892-1943) was the short-lived King of Hawaii after Japan conquered the islands in 1942.
Although he was a descendant of Queen Liliukalani of Hawaii, Laanui's claim to the throne was tenuous at best. Indeed, he was the Japanese government's last choice for the office. However, unlike the rest of Hawaii's royalty, Laanui quite happy to be a puppet-ruler under Japanese control, as he felt a great deal of resentment towards the haoles who ruled Hawaii before the Japanese invaded.
In July, 1942, Laanui was crowned. He gave a speech attacking the United States for deposing the Hawaiian monarchy, and affirmed his friendship with Japan. He resided in Iolani Palace in Honolulu. His wife, a haole named Cynthia Laanui, was crowned queen. (He did not recognize the dual ironies that he gave his speech denouncing the Americans in English while standing next to his haole wife.)
Generally, Stanley had very little to do as king. He did insist on an armed and combat-ready Royal Hawaiian Army, as well as a Royal Hawaiian Airforce. The Japanese government supplied these military forces with functional but outdated technology. He was aware that Cynthia began an affair with Japanese Commander Minoru Genda in 1943, but kept quiet.
In the summer of the 1943, the United States launched its invasion to retake the islands. Japan's forces were overwhelmed. King Stanley's Royal Hawaiian Army saw combat with mixed results. Trapped in Iolani Palace, and realizing what could happen to him if the U.S. captured him, Stanley shot Cynthia in the head, and then shot himself.
