Kauai’s failed 1816 Russian alliance: the desperate plot that almost rewrote Hawaii’s history

King Kaumuali’i’s Defiant Reign and Kauai’s Final Battle

King Kaumuali’i ruled Kauai from age 16, boldly keeping his island free while the rest of Hawaii fell to Kamehameha. He dodged two failed invasions and cut deals that let him run Kauai his way.

By 1816, he got so bold he made secret pacts with a German doctor for Russian guns, even flew their flag over the island. But his luck ran out in 1821 when a "friendly dinner" turned into a kidnapping.

After his death in captivity, his son Humehume led one last fight at the Russian Fort in 1824. The 30-minute battle ended Kauai’s independence forever.

Today, you can walk the fort grounds where Hawaii’s last kingdom made its final stand.

Teenage King Takes Kauai’s Throne During Turbulent Times

Kaumuali’i became king of Kauai and Niihau in 1794 at just 16 years old. His mother, Queen Kamakahelei, died and left him a kingdom facing big threats.

Chief Inamoo helped the young ruler while Kamehameha I took over all other main Hawaiian islands. By 1796, Kauai stood alone as the last free Hawaiian kingdom.

Foreign visitors like Captain Vancouver noticed how smart, polite, and capable the young king was. He quickly learned English to talk with the growing number of foreign ships visiting his shores.

Mother Nature Sinks Kamehameha’s First Invasion Fleet

Kamehameha gathered more than 800 war canoes and a huge army to attack Kauai in 1796. His massive fleet crossed the dangerous Kauai Channel but ran into trouble.

A sudden storm hit when they were barely a quarter way across, flipping and sinking hundreds of canoes. Thousands of Kamehameha’s warriors drowned in the rough seas, forcing him to return to Oahu.

Kauai survived this first big test thanks to nature’s help rather than fighting.

Deadly Sickness Stops Second Attack Before It Starts

Kamehameha tried again in 1803-1804 with a rebuilt fleet and fresh army.

This time, a terrible sickness, likely typhoid or dysentery, spread through his forces before they could launch. Thousands more warriors died from the illness, and Kamehameha nearly died too.

He canceled the second invasion and pulled back to let his weakened forces recover. Kaumualii used this extra time to build up trade with foreign ships and gather weapons for defense.

Two Kings Strike a Deal That Saves Lives

By 1810, Kamehameha built his biggest fleet ever, including foreign-built schooners with cannons. Kaumualii chose to talk instead of fight.

He sailed to Honolulu on American captain Nathan Winship’s ship O’Cain in April 1810. The two kings met face-to-face and worked out a deal.

Kaumualii agreed to accept Kamehameha as the supreme ruler, making Kauai part of the Kingdom of Hawaii while keeping day-to-day control of his islands.

Behind Smiles and Handshakes, Kaumualii Keeps Control

After the 1810 agreement, Kaumuali’i often refused to pay the tribute he owed Kamehameha. By 1814, he openly broke parts of the deal, acting like an independent ruler.

Kamehameha put up with this rather than start another costly military campaign. Kauai worked as a semi-independent kingdom with Kaumuali’i calling all the shots on his islands.

Both sides kept this balance going because they knew fighting would hurt everyone.

Russian Doctor Promises Help That Never Comes

German doctor Georg Schaffer arrived in 1816 claiming to represent the Russian-American Company.

Kaumuali’i, looking for help against Kamehameha, signed secret deals thinking Schaffer had backing from the Russian empire.

The king gave Schaffer 500 Hawaiian soldiers and rights to sandalwood in exchange for weapons and protection.

They raised the Russian flag over Kauai as Schaffer promised that Czar Alexander I would help break free from Kamehameha’s control.

Angry King Kicks Out Foreign Trickster

In May 1817, Kaumuali’i learned Schaffer had lied about everything. The Russian government never approved any treaties or plans to help Kauai.

The king confronted Schaffer at Waimea with 1,000 of his people backing him up.

American merchant ships arrived and took down the Russian flags while Schaffer’s own workers abandoned him. Kaumualii forced Schaffer to leave Kauai in July 1817 after Hawaiian workers loaded him onto departing ships.

Great Conqueror’s Death Changes Island Politics

When Kamehameha I died in 1819, his young son Liholiho became Kamehameha II. Queen Regent Kaahumanu took over most of the power and worried Kauai might break away.

Kaumuali’i said he was loyal to the new rulers but kept doing things his own way. Tensions grew as Kaahumanu worked to strengthen her control over all islands.

She watched Kaumualii closely, suspecting he planned to make Kauai fully independent again.

Dinner Invitation Turns Into Royal Kidnapping

Liholiho came to Kauai in September 1821, saying he wanted a friendly visit with Kaumualii. On September 16, 1821, he invited the Kauai king to dinner aboard his royal yacht.

Once Kaumuali’i was on board, the ship suddenly set sail for Honolulu with him as a prisoner. Queen Regent Kaahumanu then forced Kaumuali’i to marry her to cement control over Kauai forever.

She kept him under house arrest in Honolulu and never let him go back to his home islands.

Captive King Dies Far From Home

Kaumuali’i died on May 26, 1824, in Honolulu after three years of forced exile from his beloved Kauai. His son Humehume thought his father was poisoned and feared he might be next under Kaahumanu’s rule.

Angry and desperate, Humehume gathered unhappy Kauai chiefs who wanted to keep their traditional power. They planned a bold attack on Fort Elizabeth to grab the weapons Kaumualii had stored there years earlier.

Son’s Rebellion Ends Kauai’s Freedom Dreams

Humehume led a surprise attack on Fort Elizabeth on August 8, 1824, breaking into the armory to get weapons.

The battle lasted just 30 minutes before the rebellion failed, with 18 people killed as Hawaiian Kingdom forces won. Humehume ran to the mountains but got caught weeks later and was sent to Oahu under house arrest.

All rebel chiefs and their supporters were forced to leave Kauai, ending native Hawaiian control forever.

The Hawaiian Kingdom split Kauai among Kamehameha family relatives, marking the complete takeover of the last independent Hawaiian island.

Visiting Russian Fort, Hawaii

You can explore the Russian Fort ruins at Pā’ula’ula State Historic Site in Waimea for free, but the 17-acre park is temporarily closed since March 24, 2025 for construction improvements.

When it reopens, you’ll find interpretive walking trails, restrooms, and an eight-foot bronze statue of King Kaumuali’i overlooking the fort and Waimea Bay.

Pick up a brochure for a self-guided tour to learn about Humehume’s failed 1824 rebellion to restore Kauai’s independence.

This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.

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