Around the World with a King

Wonderful historic document. You have to read it bearing in mind when the text was written (there are a lot of thoughts that are considered prejudices today) but apart from that, it's such a magical story! This poor Hawaiian king trying to learn from other monarchies in other countries and trying to convince the world that Hawaii also exists. I really recommend it to fans of traveling, Pacific cultures, monarchies or international affairs.

This book provides a fascinating insight into a historical adventure that most people are unaware of. King Kalakaua of Hawaii was the first monarch ever to circumnavigate the globe, visiting many of the countries with whom Hawaii had treaties. Kalakaua was a highly educated and intelligent man and an exceptional diplomat who spoke numerous languages including the Queen's English, and courts around the world were highly impressed with his character and knowledge. He also liked to party and could be a bit of a rascal, so there are some quite humorous scenes as well. The author, who travelled with Kalakaua, inserts some rather unfortunate racist judgments in his commentary, which can be hard to stomach, but if one can overlook those, the substance of the story itself is fascinating, and in my opinion would make a great movie!