A new exhibition at the British Museum will showcase the historic visit of Hawaiian royalty to London two centuries ago.
Titled “Hawai’i: A Kingdom Crossing Oceans,” the exhibit is described by the museum as a “stunning tribute to the rich artistic heritage of Hawaiian artisans—past, present, and future.”
Set to open in January, the exhibition marks over 200 years since Hawaiian King Liholiho and Queen Kamāmalu arrived in London in 1824, seeking an alliance and protection from the British Crown.
During this remarkable journey, the royal entourage made a stop at the British Museum, which represents the first recorded instance of Native Hawaiian royals visiting the institution.
The upcoming showcase will include approximately 150 artifacts and artworks, many of which have never before been exhibited in the UK.
One of the key pieces is an ahu ʻula, a feathered cloak sent in 1810 by Kamehameha I, the first king of unified Hawaiʻi, to King George III. This magnificent cloak, on loan from King Charles III’s Royal Collection, will be displayed for the first time in over a century, along with the original letter from the Hawaiian king requesting support and protection from the British Crown.
Visitors entering the Great Court will encounter a striking nine-foot (2.7m) figure of Kū, the god of war and governance, adorned in a modern loincloth and positioned atop a pole that was recently rediscovered in a historical plinth.
Additionally, the exhibit will feature a beautifully carved drum accompanied by an ancient chant that narrates the early Polynesian migrations to Hawaii, as well as a bowl featuring figures that recently returned from a loan to Hawaii’s Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum, symbolizing exchanges between the Pacific and the UK.
Notably, the Anglo-Franco proclamation of 1843, which affirms the formal recognition of Hawaii’s independence by the UK and France, will also be on display, highlighting the diplomatic ties between these nations.
The exhibition’s creation included careful conservation of ancestral artifacts and the incorporation of ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi (the Hawaiian language) throughout the exhibit space, according to the British Museum.
Dr. Alice Christophe, who leads the Oceania department at the museum, remarked that the exhibit serves as a tribute to Native Hawaiian creators from both the past and present.
She added, “It narrates the profound and nuanced relationship between Hawaii and the United Kingdom, reflecting themes of care, sovereignty, and the complexities of allyship. We hope that this exhibition will ignite discussions and inspire individuals both within the archipelago and beyond.”
The exhibition is set to run from January 15 to May 25, 2026.
