King Kamehameha III sought to establish Hawaiʻi as a recognized, sovereign nation amongst the Western powers to protect his Kingdom's autonomy and power. He sent three delegates to Britain, France, and the United States to negotiate the necessary agreements and treaties. The famous Hawaiian diplomat Timoteo Haʻalilio led these efforts.
On November 28, 1843, Great Britain and France signed a joint agreement recognizing the Hawaiian Kingdom as a sovereign nation. The United States followed in July 1844.
Although Hawai’i was illegally overthrown by the United States in 1893, this incredible feat of sovereignty and diplomacy serves as a continued political foundation that still forwards Hawaiian resistance efforts today.
"Kaulana Nā Pua" (Famous Are the Flowers)
