A compelling account of the Hawaiian monarchy from 1810-1893, detailing the many different characters who ruled the kingdom. It examines the external influences that contributed to the end of their rule, whilst also looking at Hawaiian culture and the impact that western influences, such as Christianity, had on the rulers. Importantly it explores the monarch's own characters, how they ruled, how they lost the throne and the influences their descendants still have today in Hawaii.

‘King’ Kamehameha is finally going to Hawaii on his jollies! But things do not go smoothly. There is a crown snatcher lurking about, not to mention big, black smouldering cauldrons, gruesome looking savages, and the chief, Ali’i nui who, incidentally, has captured Toni’s eye. All is not well. ‘King’ Kamehameha’s kingdom and his whole sovereignty are threatened and, to add more gloom to his doom, he is in danger of acquiring a new step-daddy! Laughter, tears and adventures ensue, but will Kamehameha still be ‘king’ at the end of it all?

‘King’ Kamehameha’s sole interest in further securing his blissful existence is sprinkled with adventures and unavoidable challenges. All is going smoothly until, one day, Toni, his long-suffering owner, decides she wants to find herself a hubby and potential stepdad for ‘His Majesty’. This sets the ‘King’ off on a personal mission, to deter any impending union between an unfortunate victim and Toni, the ‘King’s’ servant. And, just as ‘His Majesty’ thinks he is safe and secure, lockdown descends on his kingdom. Will Toni succeed in enforcing her strict rules and regulations, when ‘King’ Kamehameha is in the full throes of conjuring up his own rules and regulations? When Toni is on her deathbed in the hospital, will the ‘King’, at least, think about mending his mischievous ways? Where will your loyalty, as a subject and reader, be placed?

Reprint of the original, first published in 1855.

The 1846-1848 Mahele (division) transformed the lands of Hawai‘i from a shared value into private property, but left many issues unresolved. Kauikeaouli (Kamehameha III) agreed to the Mahele, which divided all land among the mō‘ī (king), the ali‘i (chiefs), and the maka‘āinana (commoners), in the hopes of keeping the lands in Hawaiian hands even if a foreign power claimed sovereignty over the Islands. The king’s share was further divided into Government and Crown Lands, the latter managed personally by the ruler until a court decision in 1864 and a statute passed in 1865 declared that they could no longer be bought or sold by the mō‘ī and should be maintained intact for future monarchs. After the illegal overthrow of the monarchy in 1893, Government and Crown Lands were joined together, and after annexation in 1898 they were managed as a public trust by the United States. At statehood in 1959, all but 373,720 acres of Government and Crown Lands were transferred to the State of Hawai‘i. The legal status of Crown Lands remains controversial and misunderstood to this day. In this engrossing work, Jon Van Dyke describes and analyzes in detail the complex cultural and legal history of Hawai‘i’s Crown Lands. He argues that these lands must be examined as a separate entity and their unique status recognized. Government Lands were created to provide for the needs of the general population; Crown Lands were part of the personal domain of Kamehameha III and evolved into a resource designed to support the mō‘ī, who in turn supported the Native Hawaiian people. The question of who owns Hawai‘i’s Crown Lands today is of singular importance for Native Hawaiians in their quest for recognition and sovereignty, and this volume will become a primary resource on a fundamental issue underlying Native Hawaiian birthrights. 64 illus., 6 maps