A major new exhibition at the British Museum is set to illuminate one of history's most surprising and poignant diplomatic relationships: the complex but cordial ties between the British Empire and the Kingdom of Hawaii. 'Hawaiʻi: a Kingdom Crossing Oceans' opens on 15 January 2026 and runs until 25 May 2026, offering a vibrant window into a vanished world.
A Story of Diplomacy and Tragedy
The relationship was forged in adversity. While Captain James Cook was killed in a skirmish on Hawaiʻi Island in 1779, a remarkable connection developed decades later. In 1824, King Kamehameha II and Queen Kamāmalu of the united Hawaiian archipelago travelled to London on a crucial mission to secure British support. Tragically, both monarchs died of measles before meeting King George IV. Despite this personal catastrophe, the diplomatic mission was a success.
This bond was tested again in 1843 when a rogue British captain seized the islands. The Royal Navy swiftly intervened to restore Hawaiian sovereignty. However, Britain offered little practical aid when the United States annexed Hawaii in 1893. Over the kingdom's 98-year existence, this unique friendship led to a significant accumulation of Hawaiian objects in British institutions, primarily through trade and lavish royal gifts.
Feathered Cloaks and Royal Regalia
The exhibition's undeniable showstoppers are a series of astonishingly vibrant feathered costumes and textiles. Their colours – brilliant reds, yellows, and blues – have survived two centuries in stunning condition. Many items incorporate feathers from birds now extinct, their legacy preserved in these artefacts.
The centrepiece is a gargantuan feathered chieftain's cloak, crafted as a gift for King George III. By the time it reached Britain, George III had died, so it passed to his son, George IV. The cloak is so large it would require a wearer over seven feet tall to prevent it touching the ground, a traditional prohibition. It is displayed alongside George IV's own bejewelled coronation outfit, highlighting the shared language of ostentatious royal ritual across the oceans.
Weapons, Idols and Cultural Treasures
Beyond the majestic textiles, the exhibition is filled with fascinating objects that bring Hawaiian culture to life. Visitors will encounter gorgeously sinister puppets, otherworldly wooden kiʻi (deity idols), and an array of weaponry including a formidable shark's tooth knuckleduster. This carefully curated collection tells a story that transcends the individual items, focusing on the kinship between two island kingdoms.
'Hawaiʻi: a Kingdom Crossing Oceans' runs at the British Museum in Bloomsbury from 15 January to 25 May 2026. Tickets are priced between £14 and £16. The museum is easily accessible via Tottenham Court Road, Holborn, or Russell Square tube stations.
