Royal Order of Kamehameha I
Encyclopedia
The Royal Order of Kamehameha I was a society established in 1865 by King Kamehameha V
in defense of the sovereignty of the Kingdom of Hawaii
.
, he established the Order of Kamehameha I on April 11, 1865 named to honor his grandfather Kamehameha I
, known as Kamehameha the Great for unifying the Kingdom of Hawaii
and founding the House of Kamehameha
. The original purpose was to defend the sovereignty of the Kingdom.
Upon the overthrow of the kingdom of Queen Liliuokalani, the provisional government of the Committee of Safety
(many from conservative western missionary families) declared the order a threat to national security
and forcibly suppressed it. The Royal Order of Kamehameha I continued to exist as an underground society, keeping vigil for the restoration of the Hawaiian monarchy and to aid Hawaiians in need.
The Order was reorganized by Prince Jonah Kūhiō Kalanianaole in 1902.
In 1903, the Royal Order of Kamehameha I came out of hiding when the surviving heir to the throne, Prince Jonah Kūhiō Kalanianaole led a torchlight ceremony to the statue of Kamehameha I in front of Aliiōlani Hale
. He announced the restoration of the order and established new civic clubs to act as grassroots organizations in advocacy of native Hawaiians
.
, uplift the Hawaiian people; infuse the spirit of patriotism, loyalty, helpfulness and kindness among its members; advance the interest of its members in every rightful cause, and to encourage and develop leadership.
Today the order has eight Chapters:
The last remaining original meeting hall of the order, located at 1162 Kalanianaole Avenue in the Keaukaha community of Hilo, Hawaii, was added to the National Register of Historic Places
on May 20, 1993.
The Royal Order of Kamehameha I continues its work in defense and preservation of native Hawaiian rituals and the rites established by the leaders of the Kingdom of Hawaii. It is often consulted by the U.S. Government, State of Hawaii
and the various county governments of Hawaii in native Hawaiian-sensitive rites performed at state functions.
Kamehameha V
aloghaKamehameha V , born as Lot Kapuāiwa, reigned as monarch of the Kingdom of Hawaii from 1863 to 1872. His motto was "Onipa`a": immovable, firm, steadfast or determined; he worked diligently for his people and kingdom and was described as the last great traditional chief...
in defense of the sovereignty of the Kingdom of Hawaii
Kingdom of Hawaii
The Kingdom of Hawaii was established during the years 1795 to 1810 with the subjugation of the smaller independent chiefdoms of Oahu, Maui, Molokai, Lānai, Kauai and Niihau by the chiefdom of Hawaii into one unified government...
.
History
After Lot Kapuāiwa took the throne as King Kamehameha VKamehameha V
aloghaKamehameha V , born as Lot Kapuāiwa, reigned as monarch of the Kingdom of Hawaii from 1863 to 1872. His motto was "Onipa`a": immovable, firm, steadfast or determined; he worked diligently for his people and kingdom and was described as the last great traditional chief...
, he established the Order of Kamehameha I on April 11, 1865 named to honor his grandfather Kamehameha I
Kamehameha I
Kamehameha I , also known as Kamehameha the Great, conquered the Hawaiian Islands and formally established the Kingdom of Hawaii in 1810. By developing alliances with the major Pacific colonial powers, Kamehameha preserved Hawaii's independence under his rule...
, known as Kamehameha the Great for unifying the Kingdom of Hawaii
Kingdom of Hawaii
The Kingdom of Hawaii was established during the years 1795 to 1810 with the subjugation of the smaller independent chiefdoms of Oahu, Maui, Molokai, Lānai, Kauai and Niihau by the chiefdom of Hawaii into one unified government...
and founding the House of Kamehameha
House of Kamehameha
The House of Kamehameha , or the Kamehameha Dynasty, was the reigning family of the Kingdom of Hawaii between the unification of the islands by Kamehameha I in 1810 and the death of Kamehameha V in 1872...
. The original purpose was to defend the sovereignty of the Kingdom.
Upon the overthrow of the kingdom of Queen Liliuokalani, the provisional government of the Committee of Safety
Committee of Safety (Hawaii)
The Committee of Safety, formally the Citizen's Committee of Public Safety, was a 13-member group of the Hawaiian League also known as the Annexation Club...
(many from conservative western missionary families) declared the order a threat to national security
National security
National security is the requirement to maintain the survival of the state through the use of economic, diplomacy, power projection and political power. The concept developed mostly in the United States of America after World War II...
and forcibly suppressed it. The Royal Order of Kamehameha I continued to exist as an underground society, keeping vigil for the restoration of the Hawaiian monarchy and to aid Hawaiians in need.
The Order was reorganized by Prince Jonah Kūhiō Kalanianaole in 1902.
In 1903, the Royal Order of Kamehameha I came out of hiding when the surviving heir to the throne, Prince Jonah Kūhiō Kalanianaole led a torchlight ceremony to the statue of Kamehameha I in front of Aliiōlani Hale
Aliiolani Hale
Aliiōlani Hale is a building located in downtown Honolulu, Hawaii, currently used as the home of the Hawaii State Supreme Court. It is the former seat of government of the Kingdom of Hawaii and the Republic of Hawaii....
. He announced the restoration of the order and established new civic clubs to act as grassroots organizations in advocacy of native Hawaiians
Native Hawaiians
Native Hawaiians refers to the indigenous Polynesian people of the Hawaiian Islands or their descendants. Native Hawaiians trace their ancestry back to the original Polynesian settlers of Hawaii.According to the U.S...
.
Today
The purpose of the Royal Order of Kamehameha I, as it is known today, is to unite men of Hawaiian descent in fraternal and benevolent work, good moral character, and sound bodily health; to cultivate the cardinal principles of friendship, charity and benevolence; to aid widows and orphans; to improve the social and moral conditions of its members; to provide scholarship assistance; to preserve and perpetuate the ancient culture, customs, and traditions of ancient HawaiAncient Hawaii
Ancient Hawaii refers to the period of Hawaiian human history preceding the unification of the Kingdom of Hawaii by Kamehameha the Great in 1810. After being first settled by Polynesian long-distance navigators sometime between AD 300–800, a unique culture developed. Diversified agroforestry and...
, uplift the Hawaiian people; infuse the spirit of patriotism, loyalty, helpfulness and kindness among its members; advance the interest of its members in every rightful cause, and to encourage and develop leadership.
Today the order has eight Chapters:
- Moku O Hawaii (Central Oahu)
- Moku O Mãmalahoa (Hilo, Hawaii)
- Moku O Kaumualii (Kauai)
- Moku O Kahekili (Maui)
- Moku O Kalaniana’ole (Molokai)
- Moku O Kuhio (Windward Oahu)
- Moku O Kona (Kona, Hawaii)
- Moku O Kapuaiwa (Leeward Oahu)
The last remaining original meeting hall of the order, located at 1162 Kalanianaole Avenue in the Keaukaha community of Hilo, Hawaii, was added to the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
on May 20, 1993.
The Royal Order of Kamehameha I continues its work in defense and preservation of native Hawaiian rituals and the rites established by the leaders of the Kingdom of Hawaii. It is often consulted by the U.S. Government, State of Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
and the various county governments of Hawaii in native Hawaiian-sensitive rites performed at state functions.
External links
- http://www.mamalahoa.org Royal Order of Kamehameha I, Māmala Hoa
- Royal Order of Kamehameha I Official web site