18 Facts About Kamehameha IV

Kamehameha IV was the grandson of Kamehameha I, first monarch of all the islands.

Kamehameha IV was accompanied by 30 attendants when he arrived, but they were sent home and for the first time Liholiho was on his own.

Advisors to Kamehameha IV III thought it best that the heir apparent, Alexander, and his brother, Lot Kapuaiwa, would benefit from the mission and experience.

Kamehameha IV asked us if we liked Paris to which we replied, very much, indeed.

Kamehameha IV then said, I am very gratified to see you, you having come from so far a country, he then turned towards the doctor and said, I hope our little quarrel will be settled.

Kamehameha IV was a fine man, about as tall as I am, and had a very fine bust, and straight legs.

Kamehameha IV experienced American racism firsthand when he was almost removed from his train car after being mistaken for a slave.

Kamehameha IV had the opportunity to gain administrative experience that he would one day employ as King.

Kamehameha IV assumed the duties of Lieutenant General and Commander in Chief of the Forces of the Hawaiian Islands and began working to reorganize the Hawaiian military and to maintain the dilapidated forts and cannons from the days of Kamehameha I During this period, he appointed many officers to assist him including his brother Lot Kapuaiwa, Francis Funk, John William Elliott Maikai, David Kalakaua, John Owen Dominis and others to assist him.

Kamehameha IV worked with Robert Crichton Wyllie, the secretary of war and navy and the minister of foreign affairs, who supported creating a Hawaiian army to protect the islands from California adventurers and filibusters who were rumored to be planning to invade the islands.

On January 11,1855 Alexander took the oath as King Kamehameha IV, succeeding his uncle when he was only 20 years old.

Kamehameha IV's first act as king was to halt the negotiations his father had begun regarding Hawaii's annexation by the United States.

Kamehameha IV considered abdicating his throne, before being convinced not to by Wyllie, his minister of foreign affairs.

Kamehameha IV strongly felt that annexation would mean the end of the monarchy and the Hawaiian people.

Kamehameha IV was not successful, as sugar plantation owners in the southern United States lobbied heavily against the treaty, worried that competition from Hawaii would harm their industries.

Kamehameha IV sought deals with the British and other European governments, but his reign did not survive long enough to make them.

In 1856, Kamehameha IV decreed that December 25 would be celebrated as the kingdom's national day of Thanksgiving, accepting the persuasions of the conservative American missionaries who objected to Christmas on the grounds that it was a pagan celebration.

Kamehameha IV was buried with his son at the Royal Mausoleum of Hawaii on February 3,1864.