Long before satellites blinked above Earth or airlines drew lines across the Pacific, the Hawaiian Kingdom had its own stars — not just in the sky, but in its royal reach. In the 19th century, Hawai‘i was one of the most advanced, literate, and internationally recognized nations in the world. And yet, many people don’t know we had embassies in Europe.
In the mid-1800s, the Hawaiian Kingdom was not just surviving — it was thriving. Under the reigns of King Kamehameha III, IV, and V, Hawai‘i had international treaties with over 20 countries, including France, Britain, Japan, and the United States. We had a national flag, a bustling maritime economy, and one of the highest literacy rates in the world, thanks to early widespread education in the Hawaiian language (ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi).
By 1843, Great Britain and France had formally recognized Hawai‘i’s independence. Hawaiian diplomats such as Timoteo Haʻalilio (alongside American advisor William Richards) traveled to Europe and secured these treaties in person — in full Western dress, fluent in diplomacy and culture, proudly representing a Polynesian kingdom on the world stage. It was a defining moment: Hawai‘i had joined the community of nations as a sovereign, global player.
What’s even more remarkable is that Hawai‘i also embraced new technologies faster than some Western nations. We had a national postal system, steamships, and one of the first constitutional monarchies in the Pacific. Honolulu had electric streetlights before many cities in America. The first Hawaiian-language newspapers were printing by the 1830s, and soon Hawai‘i had more than 100 independent Hawaiian-language publications circulating across the islands.
But despite the kingdom’s progress and recognition, the storm clouds of colonialism grew. In 1893, Queen Liliʻuokalani — Hawai‘i’s last monarch — was overthrown in a coup backed by American business interests and U.S. Marines. It was a turning point that ended nearly 100 years of internationally recognized independence. A sovereign kingdom with its own star in the sky — quite literally: a Hawaiian flag once flew among those of other nations — was pulled from orbit.
Yet even as sovereignty was stripped away, Hawaiian identity endured. Today, the memory of that kingdom is not just a history lesson — it’s a living legacy. It’s found in the resurgence of Hawaiian language immersion schools, in the protection of sacred places, and in the deepening pride of a new generation learning to chant, hula, and speak with the voice of their ancestors.
The Hawaiian Kingdom may not sit at the United Nations anymore, but its values — of sovereignty, mālama ʻāina (care for the land), and aloha ʻāina (love for the land and nation) — continue to guide the hearts of many. For locals and visitors alike, knowing this story adds depth to every sunset, every chant, and every flag that still waves with pride.
History & Culture – Hawaii Monthly Staff
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