author
King of Hawaii David Kalakaua
1836–1891
A lively, complicated monarch known as the “Merrie Monarch,” he worked to strengthen Hawaiian identity at a time of growing outside pressure. His story blends royal ceremony, political struggle, and a deep commitment to Hawaiian culture.
1 Audiobook
The Legends and Myths of Hawaii: The fables and folk-lore of a strange people
by King of Hawaii David Kalakaua
About the author
Born in Honolulu in 1836, Kalākaua became king of the Hawaiian Kingdom in 1874 and reigned until 1891. He is often remembered as the last king of Hawaiʻi and as a ruler who tried to restore pride in Native Hawaiian traditions, music, and ceremony during a period of major political change.
His reign included grand public events, a journey around the world, and efforts to raise Hawaiʻi’s standing among other nations. He is especially associated with the revival of hula and other cultural practices that missionaries and outsiders had discouraged, which helped make him a lasting symbol of Hawaiian cultural renewal.
Kalākaua’s years on the throne were also marked by intense conflict. As foreign business interests gained power in the islands, he was forced to accept limits on royal authority, and his rule became tied to the larger struggle over Hawaiʻi’s independence. That mix of pageantry, resistance, and cultural pride keeps him one of the most memorable figures in Hawaiian history.