Royal Order of Kamehameha I (decoration)
Encyclopedia
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 memory of his grandfather King 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...
and in commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the founding 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...
. This Order was granted to both native Hawaiians and foreigners for distinguished service to the king and the people of Hawaii. Upon its inception, it became the first Knightly Order of the Kingdom of Hawaii
Orders and decorations of Hawaii
-Kingdom of Hawaii:The orders and decorations formerly awarded in by the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi are:-Royal Orders:* Royal Order of Kamehameha I* Royal Order of Kalākaua I* Royal Order of Kapiʻolani* Royal Order of the Crown of Hawaiʻi...
. The Order eventually fell into disuse as it was last awarded in 1886 by King Kalākaua
Kalakaua
Kalākaua, born David Laamea Kamanakapuu Mahinulani Nalaiaehuokalani Lumialani Kalākaua and sometimes called The Merrie Monarch , was the last reigning king of the Kingdom of Hawaii...
; it was made obsolete 1893.
Grades
Granting the insignia and awards of the Order was determined by the number of living members of the Order. At any given time there could only be:- Knights Grand Cross with Collar - limited to heads of state
- Knights Grand Cross - 10 individuals
- Knights Commander - 30 individuals
- Knights Companion (Knight) - 50 individuals
In the duration of the Order, it was awarded 57 times by King Kamehameha V, and 82 times by King Kalākaua.
Number of awards in the history of the Order:
- Knights Grand Cross Star - 40 recipients
- Knight Commander Cross - 56 recipients
- Knights Companion Cross - 43 recipients
Badge
The insignia consists of a Maltese cross in gold or silver with white enamel surmounted by the Hawaiian crown. Rays of gold or silver are found between the arms of the cross. Enameled in blue and white and centered on the cross is a circular shield, the center of which is inscribed and elaborate "K". On the periphery of the shield, in a blue band, is the inscription "KAMEHAMEHA I", beneath which are two laurel branches - all in gold. On the badge's reverse, around the shield is inscribed "E HOOKANAKA" (Order of Fraternity).Knights Grand Cross with Collar
The insignia are a gold collar chain and a breast star. The collar chain is sectional and comprises alternating monograms "K" and Hawaiian crowns. The central component of the chain is the monogram "K" surrounded by an open laurel crown with leaves of Viennese green enamel; this is flanked by small enameled badges of the Order. Hanging from the central component is the badge of the Order. The breast star is identical to that of the Knights Grands Cross, as detailed below.Knights Grand Cross Star
The insignia of the Knights Grand cross comprises a breast star, and the badge of the Order and worn on a grand cordon sash. The breast star is an octagonal silver star to which is affixed the badge of Order without the crown - in gold. The sash is red with a white stripe bordering the edge. The badge of the Order in brilliants is fastened to a bow on the sash on a bow, resting on the left hip.Knights Commander Cross
The insignia of the Knights Commander Cross comprises a badge of the Order worn on a neck ribbon of four alternating white and blue stripes.Knights Companion Cross
The Knights Companion cross comprises a breast badge suspended by a ribbon of red and blue stripes.----
Annuity
Recipients of the Order who were resident in the Hawaiian IslandsHawaiian Islands
The Hawaiian Islands are an archipelago of eight major islands, several atolls, numerous smaller islets, and undersea seamounts in the North Pacific Ocean, extending some 1,500 miles from the island of Hawaii in the south to northernmost Kure Atoll...
received a yearly salary depending upon their grade: $250 for the Knights Grand Cross, $150 for the Knight Commander, $75 for the Knight.
Grand Council
The Grand Council of Order, comprising the Order's Cavaliers resident on the Hawaiian islands, convened yearly. Members absent from the annual meeting without a written message for a valid reason were penalized $20. Among Royal Hawaiian Orders, only this and the Royal Order of Kalakaua IRoyal Order of Kalakaua I
The Royal Order of Kalākaua I was instituted on 28 September 1875 by King Kalākaua I to commemorate his accession to the throne of the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi on 12 February 1874. This order was granted to both native Hawaiians and foreigners for superlative service to the monarch and to the kingdom...
gathered at regular intervals.
Recipients
Among those awarded with Knights Grand cross were:- Russian Emperor, Alexander IIIAlexander III of RussiaAlexander Alexandrovich Romanov , historically remembered as Alexander III or Alexander the Peacemaker reigned as Emperor of Russia from until his death on .-Disposition:...
(1883) - Queen of Great Britain, VictoriaVictoria of the United KingdomVictoria was the monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until her death. From 1 May 1876, she used the additional title of Empress of India....
(1881) - Emperor of Germany, Wilhelm IWilliam I, German EmperorWilliam I, also known as Wilhelm I , of the House of Hohenzollern was the King of Prussia and the first German Emperor .Under the leadership of William and his Chancellor Otto von Bismarck, Prussia achieved the unification of Germany and the...
(1876) - Emperor of Austria-Hungary, Franz Joseph IFranz Joseph I of AustriaFranz Joseph I or Francis Joseph I was Emperor of Austria, King of Bohemia, King of Croatia, Apostolic King of Hungary, King of Galicia and Lodomeria and Grand Duke of Cracow from 1848 until his death in 1916.In the December of 1848, Emperor Ferdinand I of Austria abdicated the throne as part of...
(1865) - Emperor of Japan, MeijiEmperor MeijiThe or was the 122nd emperor of Japan according to the traditional order of succession, reigning from 3 February 1867 until his death...
(1881) - King of Spain, Alfonso XIIAlfonso XII of SpainAlfonso XII was king of Spain, reigning from 1874 to 1885, after a coup d'état restored the monarchy and ended the ephemeral First Spanish Republic.-Early life and paternity:Alfonso was the son of Queen Isabella II of Spain, and...
(1881) - Kings of Italy, Victor Emmanuel IIVictor Emmanuel II of ItalyVictor Emanuel II was king of Sardinia from 1849 and, on 17 March 1861, he assumed the title King of Italy to become the first king of a united Italy since the 6th century, a title he held until his death in 1878...
(1865) and Umberto IUmberto I of ItalyUmberto I or Humbert I , nicknamed the Good , was the King of Italy from 9 January 1878 until his death. He was deeply loathed in far-left circles, especially among anarchists, because of his conservatism and support of the Bava-Beccaris massacre in Milan...
(1878) - King of Portugal, Luís ILuís I of Portugal|-...
(1881) - King of Bavaria, Ludwig IILudwig II of BavariaLudwig II was King of Bavaria from 1864 until shortly before his death. He is sometimes called the Swan King and der Märchenkönig, the Fairy tale King...
(1865)
The Knights Grand Cross with Collar was awarded on two occasions, to Queen Victoria of Great Britain and to Emperor Meiji of Japan.