H.M. King David Kalākaua The Merrie Monarch: Hawaiʻi’s Last King and Defender of Culture Known for his love of music, diplomacy, and tradiCon, King Kalākaua was a high-born chief and visionary monarch who sought to restore the dignity of Hawaiian identity. He revived hula, commissioned the royal anthem, and traveled the world—becoming the first reigning monarch to circumnavigate the globe. Image credit: Crown of Hawaiʻi
Prince William Pitt Leleiohoku Heir to the Throne and Patron of the Arts Brother to Queen Liliʻuokalani and named heir to King Kalākaua, Prince Leleiohoku was a gieed composer and royal diplomat. Wearing the honors of Kamehameha and Kalākaua, he represented a new generaCon of Hawaiian royalty—steeped in tradiCon, yet fluent in the currents of global change. Image credit: Digital Archives of Hawaiʻi / Photograph by M. Dickson
Betsey Stockton From Bondage to Beacon: Hawaiʻi’s First Black Educator Born into slavery and once held in the household of Princeton’s president, Betsey Stockton carved a remarkable path as an educator and missionary. Her journey led her from the classrooms of Princeton and Philadelphia to Lahaina, Maui, where she established one of the earliest schools for commoners in the Hawaiian Kingdom—bringing literacy, compassion, and equality to the Pacific. Image credit: Princeton & Slavery Project
Carlotta Stewart Lai A Trailblazer in the Tropics: Hawai‘i’s First Black Woman Principal Daughter of a civil rights pioneer, Carlo^a Stewart Lai sha^ered educaConal and racial boundaries when she became a school principal in early 20th-century Hawai‘i. Her leadership across Oʻahu and Kauaʻi transformed classrooms and challenged the norms of a segregated system with intellect, grace, and unwavering vision. Image credit: Black Women Radicals / BlackPast.org / Howard University Archives