The Hawaiian Kingdom

The Hawaiian Kingdom trilogy by Ralph S. Kuykendall is a detailed history of the Kingdom of Hawaii.

History

Ralph S. Kuykendall arrived in Hawaii in 1922 as executive secretary of the Historical Commission of the Territory of Hawaii. The Commission planned a thousand page thorough history of the Kingdom of Hawaii. In 1932 the Commission was dissolved because of the Great Depression and the project went to the University of Hawaii Kuykendall followed the project and became an assistant professor. In 1938 Volume 1 was published and in 1953 Volume 2 was published. Kuykendall died of cancer in 1963 leaving most of the final chapter unfinished. Kuykendall’s friend and colleague Charles H. Hunter continued his work, in 1967 Volume 3 was published.

Volume 1

Volume 1: Foundation and Transformation, 1778-1854 is about the formation of the Hawaiian Islands under a single kingdom and the development of the Hawaiian nation. The book spans the first half of the Kamehameha Dynasty; Kamehameha I, Kamehameha II, Kamehameha III.

Volume 2

Volume 2: Twenty Critical Years, 1854-1874 is about the “middle period” after the establishment of the Kingdom. It is about international relations, immigration, changing economics and society. Kuykendall described this period as “neglected” by academics. The book spans the last half of the Kamehameha Dynasty; Kamehameha IV, Kamehameha V, and Lunalilo and his brief dynasty.

Volume 3

Volume 3: The Kalakaua Dynastism, 1874-1893 is about the decline of the Kingdom, Reciprocity Treaty of 1875, and eventual overthrow. The book spans the Kalākaua Dynasty; Kalākaua, Liliʻuokalani. Volume 3 was one of Kuykendall′s posthumous publications.