2015 Royal Order of Kamehameha I Ornament

2015 Royal Order of Kamehameha 1 Ornament

Among the five royal orders awarded by the Kingdom of Hawai'i, the Royal Order of Kamehameha 1 was the most prominent and was awarded to both Native Hawaiians and foreigners. The 2015 ornament is based on the Knights Grand Coss Star of this Order, which was awarded to Emperor Wilhelm 1 of Prussia (Germany), among others. Over 200 Orders were awarded in total and was the first of its kind for the Kingdom of Hawai'i until 1875.

As a fraternal benefit society with roots in freemasonry , The Royal Order of Kamehameha 1 was established on April 11, 1865 by King Kamehameha V to honor the legacy of his grandfather, Kamehameha 1, who unified the Hawaiian Islands in 1810. The Order's motto is the last word spoken by Kamehameha 1 to his son Liholiho "E hookanaka" which translates to "Be a man" or " Have courage."

When the Hawaiian Kingdom was overthrown in 1893, the Provisional Government declared the Order a threat as an organization, forcing it to go underground. In 1903, Prince Kuhio, who as a youth lived at ʻIolani Palace with his two brothers for a time, restored the Royal Order of Kamehameha 1 fraternal organization, reorganized the Hawaiian Benevolent Societies, and created the Hawaiian Civic Clubs.

This ornament is an exclusive ʻIolani Palace design.

Made by David Howell & Company (New York)

Solid brass, giclee print, electro-plated with gold finish