King of Hawaii David Kalakaua

Born in 1836, David Kalākaua became king of the Hawaiian Kingdom in 1874. He is often called the Merrie Monarch, a nickname tied to his love of music, celebration, and public ceremony.

During his reign, he worked to strengthen Hawaii’s place in the world, including a globe-circling trip in 1881 that made him the first reigning monarch to travel around the world. He is also widely remembered for encouraging Hawaiian cultural practices, including hula, after years when many traditional expressions had been discouraged.

Kalākaua’s later years were shaped by intense political conflict as outside business interests gained power in the islands. He died in 1891, and his sister, Queen Liliʻuokalani, succeeded him.