A dazzling celebration of the artistry of Hawaiian makers, this book tells a compelling story of movement, allyship and cultural exchange. Marking over 200 years since King Liholiho and Queen Kamāmalu travelled across oceans to seek alliance and protection from the British Crown, this publication reveals the deep and complex relationship between Hawai‘i and Great Britain.
Through powerful new insights from contributors in Hawai‘i, the UK and beyond, it shines light on the relevance of ancestral stories into a shared future. The accompanying exhibition, Hawai’i: a kingdom crossing oceans, opens at the British Museum on 15 January 2026 until 25 May 2026.
Hawaiian makers, a compelling story of movement, allyship and cultural exchange.
This important new publication shines light on the extraordinary collection of Hawaiian works at the British Museum, which are featured alongside key works from national and international collections, centring narratives developed with Hawaiian knowledge-bearers. At its core is the story of the continued relationship between Hawaiʻi and Great Britain: it marks over 200 years since the ill-fated visit of King Liholiho and Queen Kamāmalu and their delegation to London to seek protection and alliance from the British Crown and subsequent events.
The dazzling artistry of Hawaiian makers and artists is revealed through co-curated stories and a range of ancestral and contemporary works, including striking featherwork such as large ‘ahu ‘ula (cloaks); kiʻi (figures) carved in wood and bringing powerful presences and complex histories to light; and exquisite pahu (drums), the sounds of which accompany dances honouring the gods and chiefs.
Contrasting portraits, made at the time of the visit to Britain by the delegation from Hawaiʻi in 1824, evidence the reception they received, while other more recent artworks highlight collections as continued resources and points of connection for Hawaiian communities today.
The book brings together rich contributions by 27 authors based in Hawaiʻi, London and beyond. It also features the first comprehensive inventory of over 900 Hawaiian works in the British Museum collection – one of the largest in the world outside of Hawaiʻi.
Building on years of collaboration with Hawaiian artists, practitioners and scholars, this new publication centres on Indigenous knowledge, shining new light on exceptional objects and extraordinary stories.
Editor and lead author
Alice Christophe is Lead Curator of the exhibition Hawaiʻi: a kingdom crossing oceans, and Curator and Interim Head of Oceania at the British Museum.
Contributors from the British Museum
- Julie Adams
- Frøya Crabtree
- Nicola Crompton
- Joanne Dyer
- Nicole Rode
- Diego Tamburini
External contributors
- May Haunani Balino-Sing, cultural practitioner and educator
- Leah Caldeira, Bishop Museum
- Kayla Ku‘ualoha Fernandez, Bishop Museum
- Hattie Keonaona Hāpai, UCLA/Getty
- Healoha Johnston, Bishop Museum
- Noelle M.K.Y. Kahanu, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa
- Dennis Kana‘e Keawe, cultural practitioner and artist
- Hina Kneubuhl, language advocate and cultural practitioner
- E. Tory Laitila, Honolulu Museum of Art
- Kapulani Landgraf, artist
- Kate Clarke Lemay, US Army Heritage and Education Center
- Brandy Nālani McDougall, poet and University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa
- Akoni Nelsen, Hoʻāla Kealakekua Nui
- Kalei Nuʻuhiwa, independent scholar and curator of Kanaenae Together
- Jsohnel Pacarro, Kamehameha Schools
- Kauʻi Sai-Dudoit, Awaiaulu
- Lisa Schattenburg-Raymond, cultural practitioner and educator
- N. Ha‘alilio Solomon, Kawaihuelani Center for Hawaiian Language and University of
- Hawaiʻi at Mānoa
- Rachel Peat Underhill, Royal Collection Trust, UK
- Lloyd Kumulāʻau Sing, cultural practitioner and educator
For more information, please visit the Hawaiʻi: a kingdom crossing oceans exhibition webpage: britishmuseum.org/hawaii
Hawaiʻi: a kingdom crossing oceans will run from 15 January – 25 May 2026 in The Joseph Hotung Exhibition Gallery (Room 35). Open Saturday to Thursday 10.00–17.00, Friday 10.00–20.30. Last entry 15 minutes before closing. Early bird tickets available from £14, under-16s free when accompanied by an adult ticket holder, 2-for-1 tickets for students on Fridays, and concessions and group rates available.
About The British Museum Press
The British Museum Press publishes award-winning illustrated books for general readers, families, academics, and students. Inspired by the famous collections of the British Museum, our titles range across the fine and decorative arts, history, archaeology, and world cultures.
Published to accompany the British Museum’s innovative exhibition programme, to celebrate key areas of the collection, and to tell the stories of some of its amazing objects, our books shed light on new discoveries of global interest and provide fresh insights into well-known objects and periods of history. Beautifully produced and written by experts in their fields, our titles are sold throughout the world in many languages with all profits going to support the work of the British Museum.
The British Museum Press is a division of the British Museum Company Ltd, a company and a charity wholly owned by the Trustees of the British Museum.
Where to buy
For UK and Export trade orders please contact sales@thameshudson.co.uk and for individual customer orders please visit the British Museum online shop
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