Hawai’i – A Kingdom Crossing Oceans at the British Museum

Hawai‘i – A Kingdom Crossing Oceans has a specific focus on British and Hawaiian relations and is bountiful in its unveiling of gods and treasures reaped from voyaging. However, there remains some speculation around the descriptive texts accompanying the instruments on display. This latter aspect is a mark of the wealth brought by men from a culture they did not fully understand. Still, the memory contained within these artefacts lives vibrantly through the beauty of the tapestries on show and the uniquely alluring wood carvings.

At the entrance, visitors are met with a welcome banner bearing a mantra that defines Hawai‘i through the eyes of its people. This early section marvels at the clothing worn by chiefs and the fabrics traditionally used, all made from and inspired by the surrounding natural environment. Kapa (barkcloth) is presented as a conduit between the land, the people and the gods; its various forms are used in both everyday life and ritual practices. One standout display is a glass case presenting an array of headdresses and accessories, designed to evoke the presence of multiple chiefs. It succeeds, exuding an aura of regal strength through its collection of wearables. Speaking of leadership, another item of interest is the royal gift of a cloak displayed alongside Kamehameha’s letter to George III, written in 1810 to request protection for the Hawaiian Kingdom. This moment directly taps into the relationship between the two nations.

Further on, there is an array of instruments used across different aspects of Hawaiian life. The descriptions are intriguing, examining how elements of nature are integrated into daily activities. Water is shown as a shared community resource; birdlife, once used to create ancestral treasures; the sea, celebrated for the importance of fishing; the mountains, providing materials for tools; and taro farming, centred on a plant described as having ancestral origins. These themes are reflected in the objects on display: water containers, bird illustrations, fish hooks and basalt, to name just a few. The commentary emphasises how modernity and climate change are affecting these longstanding traditions, underlining the importance of sustainability and the careful management of natural resources.

Connecting this former way of life to the effects of colonisation is a portrait of Hawaiian politician and scholar Haunani-Kay Trask. It hangs high above a letter written by Queen Lili‘uokalani to a British official during the overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom in 1893, seeking support from the UK. This pairing becomes a powerful showcase of resistance and of the Hawaiian people’s determination to maintain their identity in the face of growing US influence. Ultimately, the UK did not intervene. As the walkthrough concludes, a final video is projected, titled Āina Hānau / Birth Land. Young students recite a poem by Hawaiian poet Brandy Nālani McDougall, learning from the past while paving the way for the future. It reflects on decades of history left behind, while also signalling hope and a continued commitment to conserving nature and building a better Hawai‘i.