If you walk into a bar in Honolulu and ask "Who is the king of Hawaii?" you’re going to get a very long, very complicated silence. Or a two-hour lecture. Probably both.
Honestly, it’s one of those questions that seems simple on the surface but opens up a massive can of worms the second you start digging. Most people think the monarchy ended in 1893 when Queen Liliʻuokalani was overthrown by a group of sugar barons and fruit tycoons. In a legal, "United States statehood" kind of way, that's true. There is no sitting monarch with political power in Hawaii today.
But if you’re looking for a name—a person who carries the bloodline and the title of "Aliʻi Nui"—the answer depends entirely on who you ask and which historical document they happen to be holding.
The Short Answer: There Isn't One (Legally)
Right now, in 2026, the State of Hawaii is a democratic part of the U.S. There’s a governor, not a king. The 1893 overthrow basically hit "delete" on the official role of a monarch.
The last reigning king was David Kalākaua, known as the "Merrie Monarch." When he died in 1891, his sister Liliʻuokalani took over. She was the last actual sovereign. When she was deposed, the line of succession became a tangled web of cousins, hanai (adopted) children, and distant relatives.
The Most Recognized Heir: Quentin Kawānanakoa
If you’re looking for the person most often cited as the "titular" king, it’s usually Quentin Kūhiō Kawānanakoa.
He’s a lawyer and a former politician who served in the Hawaii House of Representatives. He’s the great-grandson of Prince David Kawānanakoa, who was officially named as an heir to the throne by the royal family before the overthrow. Because of that direct link to the Kalākaua dynasty, many genealogists and royalists see him as the most "legitimate" pick.
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The thing is, Quentin doesn't exactly spend his days wearing a crown and demanding tribute. He’s a regular guy. He’s been active in the Hawaii Republican Party, which is a bit ironic considering the history, but he’s generally respected as a high-ranking Aliʻi.
The "Last Princess" and the Big Dispute
You might have heard about Abigail Kawānanakoa. She passed away in late 2022. For decades, the media called her the "last Hawaiian princess."
She was incredibly wealthy (thanks to a Campbell Estate fortune) and spent millions on Native Hawaiian causes. But even within the Kawānanakoa family, there was drama. Some argued she wasn't technically a princess because of how the succession rules were written back in the 1800s.
Then you have other claimants like Owana Salazar.
She’s a musician and a direct descendant of the House of Keoua. She has actually "re-established" certain royal orders and has been recognized by some European and African royal houses in recent years. Her supporters argue that the Kawānanakoa line was only made heirs under the "Bayonet Constitution" of 1887, which they say was illegal.
It's a mess.
Wait, What About King Edmund?
If you go down certain internet rabbit holes, you’ll find Edmund Keliʻi Paki-Silva Jr. He claims to be the reigning sovereign of the Kingdom of Hawaii. He’s got a website, he issues proclamations, and he carries himself as a sitting monarch. However, most mainstream historians and even many Hawaiian sovereignty activists don't recognize his claim.
In Hawaii, "sovereignty" isn't a monolith. There are dozens of groups. Some want total independence from the U.S. Others just want a "nation within a nation" status similar to Native American tribes.
Why This Still Matters in 2026
You might think this is all just LARPing or historical trivia. It's not.
For many Native Hawaiians, the question of "Who is the king?" is tied to the legal argument that the Kingdom of Hawaii never actually stopped existing. They argue that because there was never a treaty of annexation—only a joint resolution of Congress—Hawaii is technically an "occupied country" under international law.
If the kingdom is still alive, then the king is a vital legal figure.
Real Talk: The Candidates At a Glance
Since there isn't one "official" king, here is how the landscape looks:
- Quentin Kawānanakoa: The "Establishment" heir. Most recognized by the state and genealogists.
- Owana Salazar: The "Cultural" claimant. Very active in royal ceremonies and recognized by some international nobility.
- Darrick Lane Hoapili Liloa Kamakahelei Baker: Another high-ranking Aliʻi from the House of Kamakahelei who maintains a claim to the throne of Kauaʻi and Niʻihau.
Actionable Insights for Your Next Trip
If you’re heading to the islands and want to respect the history, here is what you should actually do:
- Visit ʻIolani Palace: It’s the only royal palace on U.S. soil. It’s not just a museum; it’s a sacred site.
- Learn the name Liliʻuokalani: She’s the heart of this story. Read her book, Hawaii's Story by Hawaii's Queen.
- Don't call people "King" or "Prince" jokingly: These titles carry heavy weight and a lot of ancestral pain for people whose government was stolen.
- Watch the Merrie Monarch Festival: If you want to see the "spirit" of the monarchy, this hula competition in Hilo is where it lives.
The search for a King of Hawaii isn't about finding a guy in a velvet robe. It's about a people trying to figure out where their history fits in a world that tried to erase it. Whether it's a Kawānanakoa or someone else, the crown exists in the culture, even if it's not on a head.
To truly understand the current state of Hawaiian sovereignty, you should look into the Council of Regency and the ongoing legal cases regarding the "Occupied State" status at the International Criminal Court. That is where the real "royal" action is happening today.