Hawaiian Kings and Queens Facts & Worksheets

Hawaii is an archipelago that consists of islands. It is known as a tropical paradise for its pristine beaches and rich cultural heritage made possible by the native rulers— chiefs, kings, and queens who reigned before becoming a state under the United States of America in 1894.

See the fact file below for more information about Hawaiian Kings and Queens, or you can download our 28-page Hawaiian Kings and Queens worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

• The first inhabitants of Hawaii are Polynesians from the Marquesas Islands and Tahiti Islands. On the other hand, the first European explorer to contact the Hawaiians was James Cook.
• Due to its abundance of natural resources, colonizers saw Hawaii as a target for exploration, which resulted in conflicts and battles. A corresponding chief led battles or a supreme ruler called Ali’i nui on each island.
• The unification of all islands was made possible through the Battle of Nuʻuanu, headed by King Kamehameha I. This emerged the archipelago to have one absolute king.

KING KAMEHAMEHA I

• King Kamehameha I was named Pai’ea at birth, born on November 1, 1758. At a young age, he was trained to be a warrior due to the widespread warring clans.
• He was the first king of the archipelago due to his greatness, which was reflected in the battle he won in 1795, where he utilized military tactics with the help of his British advisors. It led to his most outstanding contribution: the unification of the Hawaiian Islands into a single kingdom in 1810.
• King Kamehameha I ruled Hawaii from 1810 to 1819. He died the same year. The nation honored his legacy by building statues and commemorating him every 11th June.

KING KAMEHAMEHA II

• King Kamehameha II was named Liholiho, born on November 1797, succeeded the throne, being the eldest son of Kamehameha I in 1819.
• He is known as the king who abolished the kapu system or taboo as he allowed males and females to eat together on a feast. King Kamehameha II traveled from one island to another to respond to the needs of his people. Moreover, he paved the way for a new religion to be known in Hawaii when he allowed missionaries to preach about Christianity—he died due to measles while on a state visit to Great Britain in 1824.

KING KAMEHAMEHA III

• King Kamehameha III was born on March 17, 1814, and named Kauikeaouli. He succeeded to the throne when his brother, Kamehameha II, died.
• Ruling the archipelago from 1825 to 1854, his contribution included the creation of Constitutional Laws in 1840, written forms of rights, treaties with different countries, and the establishment of a Royal School where children were groomed to be ruler in 1839. 
• In 1846, the Great Mahele was imposed on the nation wherein land divisions and ownerships were practiced. He died on December 15, 1854 in Honolulu.

KING KAMEHAMEHA IV

• King Kamehameha IV was named Alexander Liholiho at birth on February 9, 1834. He succeeded the title when his uncle, Kamehameha III, adopted him. 
• He was crowned in 1854 and became active in his reign. He established Queen’s Hospital in 1860, giving free medical care to the natives. Moreover, he constructed a sailor’s home and took part in the gradual commerce development of the nation.
• Sponsored agricultural programs that ignited the nation’s interest in farming.
• A year after his son died, in November 1963, Kamehameha IV died due to nerve disorder and asthma.

KING KAMEHAMEHA V

• King Kamehameha V was named Lot on his birth, December 11, 1830. When his younger brother, Kamehameha IV, died, Lot proclaimed his intention to rule Hawaii.
• He started his reign in 1863 and contributed to the kingdom. In 1864, he promulgated a new constitution that led to the abolishment of kuhina nui, or prime ministers and legislative, to give absolute power to the monarch of Hawaii. 
• While in 1868, he imported the first wave of Japanese laborers. Kamehameha dynasty ended with him because he did not marry nor have children. He died on his birthday in 1872.

KING LUNALILO

• William Charles Lunalilo was born on January 31, 1835, and earned the throne by the first democratic election in 1873. 
• He was known for his scholarly abilities, outstanding memory for details, and poetic talents. Lunalilo composed the first national anthem of Hawaii entitled E Ola Ke Aliʻi Ke Akua or God Save The King in 1860.
• Being the first elected monarch, King Lunalilo promoted the democratic selection of ruler. He did not name a successor and died in February 1874 due to pulmonary tuberculosis.

KING KALAKAUA

• David Kalakaua was born on November 16, 1836, and crowned king in 1874 through election.
• Reign centralized on enriching culture when he wrote Hawaiʻi Ponoʻī, the new regional anthem, and gathered native Hawaiians to compile stories and customs into a book entitled Legends and Myths of Hawaii. 
• Kalakaua was the first Hawaiian King to visit the United States of America, where he signed the Reciprocity Treaty of 1875, which resulted in a duty-free market for Hawaiian sugar in exchange for exclusive economic privileges for the United States. 
• Due to his eagerness to prove that his reign was filled with accomplishments and success, it came to a point where overspending was beyond the budget. Moreover, this was accompanied by extravagance, corruption, and personal interference in politics.
• In 1887, Kalakaua was forced to sign the Bayonet Constitution, which removed the executive power of the King and deprived most Hawaiians of voting rights. He was forced to sign the new constitution by all-White, American non-Hawaiian merchants and business people with their aim to control the Hawaiian Kingdom but also eventual annexation of Hawaii by the United States.
• Kalakaua died during a trip to California in 1891.

QUEEN LILIUOKALANI

• Lydia Kamakaeha was born on September 2, 1838. She was the Sister of King Kalakaua and the only queen who ruled the Hawaiian Kingdom. The Queen’s reign started in 1891.
• Talented songwriter and author of books written for native Hawaiians.
• Due to the Bayonet Constitution signed by the previous king, her sovereignty was spent by reclaiming the trust of the native Hawaiians, power, and autonomy of the monarch to its land, but failed to do so.
• In January 1895, she was arrested and charged with treason, resulting in house arrest. Afterward, she was forced to sign a document to formally abdicate her throne in exchange for the freedom of her imprisoned supporters.
• In 1901, Queen Liliuokalani created a trust fund for Hawaiian orphan children and later on extended to impoverished children.
• Since then, Liliuokalani lived a private life and died in November 11, 1917 due to stroke complications in Iolani Palace while her remains are kept in Royal Mausoleum at Mauna’ Ala.

Hawaiian Kings and Queens Worksheets

This fantastic bundle includes everything you need to know about Hawaiian Kings and Queens across 28 in-depth pages. These ready-to-use worksheets are perfect for teaching kids about Hawaiian Kings and Queens. Hawaii is an archipelago that consists of islands. It is known as a tropical paradise for its pristine beaches and rich cultural heritage made possible by the native rulers— chiefs, kings, and queens who reigned before becoming a state under the United States of America in 1894.

Complete List of Included Worksheets

Below is a list of all the worksheets included in this document.

1. Hawaiian Kings and Queens Facts
2. Serve the Royal Table
3. Odd One Out!
4. Keeping A Yearbook
5. Coconut-ledge
6. Fair and Square
7. Through Lens
8. Greatest Chairperson
9. I KamehameHAVE A NEWS!
10. Think-Cut-Paste
11. Frame-bolisms

Frequently Asked Questions

Who was the last reigning monarch of the Kingdom of Hawaii?

Queen Liliʻuokalani was the last reigning monarch of the Kingdom of Hawaii.

Who is known as the “Merrie Monarch” and why?

King David Kalākaua is known as the “Merrie Monarch” because he was a patron of the arts and greatly promoted Hawaiian music, dance, and culture during his reign in the late 19th century.

Which Hawaiian king is credited with unifying the Hawaiian Islands into a single kingdom?

King Kamehameha I, also known as Kamehameha the Great, is credited with unifying the Hawaiian Islands into a single kingdom in 1810.

Who was Queen Liliʻuokalani’s brother and predecessor as monarch?

Queen Liliʻuokalani’s brother and predecessor as monarch was King Kalākaua, who preceded her on the throne.

What significant event led to the overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy in 1893?

The overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy in 1893 was primarily sparked by a group of American and European businessmen, backed by the United States military, who were dissatisfied with Queen Liliʻuokalani’s attempts to strengthen the power of the monarchy and her resistance to their influence. This resulted in the establishment of a provisional government and ultimately the annexation of Hawaii by the United States in 1898.

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