Portraiture and diplomacy in the British Museum exhibition Hawaiʻi: a kingdom crossing oceans

John Hayter (1800–95), Tamehamalu. Her Majesty the Queen of the Sandwich Islands. Portrait of Queen Kamāmalu, hand-coloured lithograph, 1824. © 2026 The Trustees of the British Museum.

Two small yet commanding lithograph portraits feature in the British Museum’s current exhibition Hawaiʻi: a kingdom crossing oceans. The portraits of King Liholiho and Queen Kamāmalu anchor this exhibition’s account of the unification of the Kingdom of Hawai‘i and their unprecedented diplomatic visit to the United Kingdom more than two hundred years ago. Diplomatic gifts presented by King George IV are shown alongside satirical etchings from the period, revealing the political tensions and allegiances that shaped this historic encounter. These dynamics are brought into sharp focus through a striking juxtaposition: Chief Kahekili’s feathered ‘ahu ‘ula cloak is placed opposite King George IV’s coronation coat, creating a symbolic meeting between two rulers whose paths were never destined to cross. Yet, through the circulation of their royal portraits, their images continue to travel across oceans, placing them side by side in history.

The role of portraiture in the context of this diplomatic visit is discussed in the British Museum event Hawaiian royal portraits and diplomacy, which is available to watch online. In this talk, speakers examine both portraiture and caricature produced during the monumental royal visit. The contrasting imagery, from respectful portraits to mocking caricatures, illustrates the complex mixture of fascination, curiosity and differing attitudes that greeted the Hawaiian delegation in London. But beyond this ambiguous reception, royal Hawaiian portraiture, as shaped by the sitters, reveals the vision of Hawaiian monarchs for their kingdom.

Hawaiʻi: a kingdom crossing oceans is open at the British Museum until 25 May 2026.