Kalākaua

Biography

Kalākaua (1836–1891), the last reigning king of Hawaiʻi, championed Hawaiian culture as the Merrie Monarch, reviving hula, sponsoring ʻIolani Palace, and undertaking a diplomatic world tour to affirm his nation’s sovereignty.

His legacy lives on in the traditions he fostered, and he now lies with his ancestors in the Royal Mausoleum of Hawaii.