Hawaii: A Kingdom Across the Ocean

The exhibition Hawaiʻi: a kingdom crossing oceans, hosted by the British Museum in London, explores the history and culture of the Hawaiian Kingdom in its relations with Great Britain, beginning with the royal voyage of 1824. The show offers a rich and multifaceted overview of Hawaii, illustrating how an archipelago in the North Pacific became a crossroads of movements, alliances, and exchanges among peoples, cultures, and oceans. The narrative begins with the journey of the young King Liholiho, known as Kamehameha II, and Queen Kamāmalu to the British crown in 1824. The curatorial approach focuses on dialogue between past and present: alongside historical objects such as feather cloaks, helmets, and carved figures, the exhibition presents contemporary works by kodekanaka ʻŌiwi (Native Hawaiian) artists and projects created in collaboration with local knowledge keepers. Among the most significant pieces are a feather cloak (ʻahu ʻula), a feather helmet (mahiole hulu manu), sculptures of deities (kiʻi akua), and ivory and mother-of-pearl ornaments. The exhibition invites reflection on themes of sovereignty, migration, cultural contact, and the consequences of oceanic exchange, transforming a historical account into a contemporary meditation on Hawaiian memory and identity.