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{{Infobox order
|title= Royal Order of Kamehameha I
|image= [[File:2012 King Kamehameha Parade (7435727046).jpg|300px]]
|caption= Members of the Royal Order of Kamehameha I in 2012 - Kamehameha Celebration Floral Parade
|image2= [[File:KehamehaI-amknightsgrandcrossstar.jpg|300px]]
|caption2= Star of Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Kamehameha I
|type= [[Military order (monastic society)|Knightly Order]], [[Dynastic order of knighthood|Dynastic order]]
|date= April 11, 1865
|country= The [[Kingdom of Hawaii]]
|house= [[House of Kamehameha]]
|religion=
|ribbon=
|head_title= Aliʻi Nui 
|head= Alika Desha
|head2_title=
|head2=
|notes=
}}
{{Infobox order
|title=Royal Order of Kamehameha I<br>(''Kamehameha I e Hookanaka'')
|image=[[File:Royal Order of Kamehameha I.jpg|250px]]
|caption=Badges and sash of the Order
|image2=[[File:HAW Royal Order of Kamehameha I Grand Cross ribbon.svg|100px]]<br/>Grand Cross and Grand Collar ribbon<br/>[[File:HAW Royal Order of Kamehameha I Companion ribbon.svg|100px]]<br/>Commander and Companion ribbon
|caption2=
|type=
|date=11 April 1865
|country=[[Kingdom of Hawaii|Kingdom of Hawai{{okina}}i]]
|house=
|religion=
|motto=E HOOKANAKA (Order of Fraternity)
|grades=Knight Grand Cross with Collar<br/>Knight Grand Cross<br/>Knight Commander<br/>Knight Companion
|ribbon=
|head_title=
|first head=
|head=
|head2_title=
|head2=
|higher=''None''
|lower=[[Royal Order of Kalākaua]]
|notes=
}}

The '''Royal Order of Kamehameha I''' (''Kamehameha I e Hookanaka'') is an [[Order (honour)|order of knighthood]] established by [[Kamehameha V]] in 1865, to promote and defend the sovereignty of the [[Hawaiian Kingdom]]. Established by the [[1864 Constitution of the Hawaiian Kingdom|1864 Constitution]], the Order of Kamehameha I is the second order of its kind in [[Hawaii]].

==Grades==
Appointing a member of the Order was determined by the number of living members in each particular grade. At any given time, there could only be:
* [[File:HAW Royal Order of Kamehameha I Grand Cross ribbon.svg|80x80px]] Knight Grand Cross with Collar (CGCOK) – limited to heads of state
* [[File:HAW Royal Order of Kamehameha I Grand Cross ribbon.svg|80x80px]] Knight Grand Cross (KGCOK) – 10 individuals
* [[File:HAW Royal Order of Kamehameha I Companion ribbon.svg|80x80px]] Knights Commander (KCOK) – 30 individuals
* [[File:HAW Royal Order of Kamehameha I Companion ribbon.svg|80x80px]] Knights Companion (KOK) – 50 individuals

==History==

After Lot Kapuāiwa took the throne as King [[Kamehameha V]], he established, by special decree, created by the privy council using Article 35 of the Constitution <ref name="Islands 1865">{{cite book|author=Kamehameha V (King of the Hawaiian Islands)|title=Decree to Establish the Royal Order of Kamehameha I.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mwSdHAAACAAJ|year=1865|publisher=by Authority}}</ref> the Order of Kamehameha I on April 11, 1865, named to honor his grandfather [[Kamehameha I]]. Kamehameha I was the founder of the [[Kingdom of Hawaii]] and the [[House of Kamehameha]]. Both native Hawaiians and foreigners could be appointed to the Order, in each instance for distinguished service to the king and the people of Hawai{{okina}}i.  Upon its inception, it became the first [[Orders and decorations of Hawaii|order of the Kingdom of Hawai{{okina}}i]] actually awarded (the Royal Order of the Cross and Crown was established by King Kamehameha III in 1848 but not awarded until much later). Through the decree of Kamehameha V, the Royal Order of Kamehameha was perpetually created. Its purpose to promote and defend the sovereignty of the Kingdom of Hawaii. It is chartered in the Kingdom of Hawaii by the decree of 1865. Although called "The Royal Order of Kamehameha I" today by the Public, it is known as the "Order of Kamehameha I" by its members, in private.

The Order was awarded 57 times by King Kamehameha V, and 82 times by King Kalākaua. Number of awards in the history of the Order: 
* Knights Grand Cross – 40 recipients<ref>11 Hawaiian subjects, 29 foreigners.</ref>
* Knight Commander – 56 recipients
* Knight Companion – 43 recipients

Recipients of the Order who resided in the [[Hawaiian Islands]] received a yearly salary depending upon their grade: a Knight Grand Cross was entitled to an annual stipend of $250; a Knight Commander, to $150; and a Knight, to $75.

The former Royal House of Keoua maintains a family order also named the Royal Order of Kamehameha I.

==Grand Council==
The Grand Council of Order, comprising the members of the Order resident in the Hawaiian islands, convened each year. Members absent from the annual meeting without a written message for a valid reason were penalized $20. Among Royal Hawaiian Orders, only this and the [[Royal Order of Kalākaua|Royal Order of Kalākaua I]] gathered at regular intervals.

==Insignia of the Order==
The jewel or badge of the Order is a Maltese cross in gold or silver with white enamel, surmounted by the Hawaiian crown. Rays of gold or silver are placed between the arms of the cross. A white-enamelled disc imposed upon the cross bears an elaborate golden "K" at its center; the blue-enamelled band surrounding the disc is inscribed "KAMEHAMEHA I" in golden letters, together with two golden laurel branches. A comparable disc on the reverse of the badge is inscribed "E HOOKANAKA" ("Order of Fraternity", in Hawaiian).

* '''Knight Grand Cross with Collar''': Members of this grade wore the badge of the Order dependent from a golden collar, the decorative links of which alternated the monogram "K" (surrounded by a green-enamelled laurel crown) with the royal crown and a small enamelled badge of the Order. The breast star was identical to that worn by Knights Grands Cross.
* '''Knight Grand Cross''': Knights Grand Cross wore the badge of the Order dependent from a broad red sash, which was edged by a narrow white stripe on each side; the sash was worn over the bearer's right shoulder, its bow (from which the badge, sometimes decorated with brilliants, depended) resting on his left hip. The breast star was an octagonal silver star bearing the uncrowned badge of Order in gold and enamels.
* '''Knight Commander''': Knights Commander wore the badge of the Order dependent from a red neck ribbon, which was edged in white and bore three white stripes.
* '''Knight''': Knights of the Order wore the badge on the left breast, suspended from a ribbon of red and white stripes.

<gallery class="center">
File:Royal Order of Kamehameha I highest honor.jpg|'''Grand Cross with Collar'''
File:Jeweled Royal Order of Kamehameha I.jpg|'''Grand Cross Sash Badge in Brilliants'''
File:Royal Order of Kamehameha I Knights Grand Cross Star.jpg|'''Knights Grand Cross Star'''
File:Neck badge Royal Order of Kamehameha I.jpg|'''Companion Cross'''
</gallery>

===Recipients===
Among those awarded with Knights Grand cross were:
* Emperor of Russia, [[Alexander III of Russia|Alexander III]] (1881)<ref name=letters>The Royal Tourist—Kalakaua's Letters Home from Tokio to London. Editor: Richard A. Greer. Date: 10 March 1881</ref>
* Queen of the United Kingdom, [[Queen Victoria|Victoria]] (1881)
* Sultan of the Ottoman Empire, [[Abdul Hamid II]] (1881)<ref name=letters/>
* German Emperor, King of Prussia, [[William I, German Emperor|Wilhelm I]] (1876)
* Emperor of Austria, King of Hungary, [[Franz Joseph I of Austria|Franz Joseph I]] (1865)
* Emperor of Japan, [[Emperor Meiji|Meiji]] (1881)
* King of Siam, [[Chulalongkorn]] (1881)
* King of Belgians, [[Leopold II of Belgium|Leopold II]] (1881)<ref name=letters/>
* King of Spain, [[Alfonso XII of Spain|Alfonso XII]] (1881)
* Kings of Italy, [[Victor Emmanuel II of Italy|Victor Emmanuel II]] (1865) and [[Umberto I of Italy|Umberto I]] (1878)
* King of Portugal, [[Luís I of Portugal|Luís I]] (1881)
* Emperor of Qing, [[Guangxu Emperor|Guangxu]] (1882)
* King of Bavaria, [[Ludwig II of Bavaria|Ludwig II]] (1865)
* King of Serbia, [[Milan I of Serbia|Milan I]] (1883)<ref>[https://www.nacionalnarevija.com/en/tekstovi/br%2050/07%20Havaji.html Nacionalnarevija]</ref>
* King of Romania, [[Carol I of Romania|Carol I]] (1882)<ref>[https://familiaregala.ro/stiri/articol/140-de-ani-de-relatii-diplomatice-romano-americane-o-perspectiva-regala Familia Regala]</ref>
* Prince of Orange, [[Alexander, Prince of Orange|Alexander]] (1881)<ref>{{cite news|title=The King's Tour Round the World: Additional Particulars of the Royal Visit to Spain and Portugal|url=http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn82015418/1881-10-15/ed-1/seq-1/|access-date=December 16, 2016|via=Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress.|publisher=The Pacific Commercial Advertiser|date=October 15, 1881|location=Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands}}</ref>

Recipients of other classes include:
{{Div col|colwidth=15em|rules=|gap=4em}}
* [[Albert I of Belgium]]
* [[Alfred, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha]]
* [[Prince Arisugawa Taruhito]]
* [[Bernice Pauahi Bishop]]
* [[Charles Reed Bishop]]
* [[Christian IX of Denmark]]
* [[Archibald Scott Cleghorn]]
* [[John Owen Dominis]]
* [[Queen Emma of Hawaii]]
* [[Abraham Fornander]]
* [[Prince Fushimi Sadanaru]]
* [[Charles Hastings Judd]]
* [[Kalākaua]]
* [[Kalama]]
* [[Victoria Kamāmalu]]
* [[Kamehameha V]]
* [[Charles Kanaʻina]]
* [[John Mahiʻai Kāneakua]]
* [[Paul Kanoa]]
* [[Paul P. Kanoa]]
* [[John Mākini Kapena]]
* [[Kapiʻolani]]
* [[Keʻelikōlani]]
* [[Elizabeth Kekaʻaniau]]
* [[Victoria Kinoiki Kekaulike]]
* [[Prince Kitashirakawa Yoshihisa]]
* [[Leleiohoku II]]
* [[Likelike]]
* [[Liliʻuokalani]]
* [[William Luther Moehonua]]
* [[Paul Nahaolelua]]
* [[George Morison Robertson]]
* [[William M. Wherry]]
* [[Wilhelm II, German Emperor]]
{{Div col end}}
The Knights Grand Cross with Collar was awarded on two occasions, to Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom and to Emperor Meiji of Japan.

==Today==
The purpose of the Royal Order of Kamehameha I, as it is known today, is to unite men of Hawaiian descent in fraternal and benevolent work, good moral character, and sound bodily health; to cultivate the cardinal principles of friendship, charity and benevolence; to aid widows and orphans; to improve the social and moral conditions of its members; to provide scholarship assistance; to preserve and perpetuate the ancient culture, customs, and traditions of [[ancient Hawaii|ancient Hawai{{okina}}i]], uplift the Hawaiian people; infuse the spirit of patriotism, loyalty, helpfulness and kindness among its members; advance the interest of its members in every rightful cause, and to encourage and develop leadership.

Today the order has nine Chapters:

*Moku O Hawai{{okina}}i (Central O{{okina}}ahu)
*Moku O Mãmalahoa (Hilo, Hawai{{okina}}i)
*Moku O Kaumuali{{okina}}i (Kaua{{okina}}i)
*Moku O Kahekili (Maui)
*Moku O Kalaniana’ole (Moloka{{okina}}i)(Inactive)
*Moku O Kuhio (Windward O{{okina}}ahu)
*Moku O Kona (Kona, Hawai{{okina}}i)
*Moku O Kapuaiwa (Leeward O{{okina}}ahu)
*Moku O Kohala (Kohala, Hawai'i)
*Moku O Puna (Puna, Hawai'i)

The last remaining original meeting hall of the order, located at 1162 Kalanianaole Avenue in the Keaukaha community of [[Hilo, Hawaii]], was added to the [[National Register of Historic Places]] on May 20, 1993.<ref name="focus">{{cite web|author=Paul K. Neves|url={{NRHP url|id=93000426}}|title=Kamehameha Hall Nomination form|work=National Register of Historic Places|publisher=National Park Service}}</ref>

The Royal Order of Kamehameha I continues its work in observance and preservation of  some native Hawaiian rituals and customs established by the leaders of the Kingdom of Hawai{{okina}}i. It is often consulted by the U.S. government, [[Hawaii|state of Hawai{{okina}}i]] and the various county governments of Hawai{{okina}}i in native Hawaiian-sensitive rites performed at state functions.<ref>{{cite web |title=Way of the Warrior: Native Hawaiian lecture series reveals ancient secrets |url=https://www.army.mil/article/27035/way-of-the-warrior-native-hawaiian-lecture-series-reveals-ancient-secrets/ |author=Bill Mossman |publisher=U.S. Army Garrison-Hawaii |access-date=2009-09-28 }}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*http://www.kamehameha.org – Hawai‘i Chapter 1, the original Royal Order of Kamehameha I, established by Lot Kapuāiwa in 1865, *{{usurped|1=[https://archive.today/20130415050048/http://www.kamehameha-1.org/ Article title]}} – - The original Order of Kamehameha 1 with papers of authority and constitution statue, founded by Lot Kapuaiwa 1865.
* [http://www.mamalahoa.org Royal Order of Kamehameha I, Māmala Hoa]
* [http://www.royalorderofkamehamehai.org/ Royal Order of Kamehameha I  Current Chapter information]
* {{cite web |title=Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs |url=http://www.aohcc.org/ |access-date=2009-10-04 |work= related site }}

{{Registered Historic Places}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Orders, decorations, and medals of Hawaii|Kamehameha I]]
[[Category:Orders of chivalry awarded to heads of state, consorts and sovereign family members]]
[[Category:Civic organizations of Hawaii]]
[[Category:Cultural depictions of Kamehameha I]]
[[Category:1865 establishments in Hawaii]]
[[Category:Awards established in 1865]]