The Royal Guard of the Hawaii National Guard is an Air National Guard ceremonial unit which is uniformed in a manner similar to the royal bodyguard of the Kingdom of Hawaii of the late 19th century. The original 50-man unit had been disbanded by King

Lunalilo Lunalilo (William Charles Lunalilo; January 31, 1835 – February 3, 1874) was the sixth monarch of the Kingdom of Hawaii from his election on January 8, 1873, until his death a year later. Born to Kekāuluohi and High Chief Charles Kanaʻina, ...

after the barrack mutiny of 1873, reestablished by King Kalakaua, and finally abolished after the monarchy fell during the

overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom The overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom was a ''coup d'état'' against Queen Liliʻuokalani, which took place on January 17, 1893, on the island of Oahu and led by the Committee of Safety, composed of seven foreign residents and six non-abori ...

at the end of the 19th century. The current Royal Guards were raised in 1962 as a purely ceremonial unit. Each guardsman is a

Hawaii Hawaii ( ; haw, Hawaii or ) is a state in the Western United States, located in the Pacific Ocean about from the U.S. mainland. It is the only U.S. state outside North America, the only state that is an archipelago, and the only state ...

an resident, a member of the Hawaii Air National Guard, of full or partial

an descent. The unit appears in support of the Governor at official State and other public functions; less frequently, the unit appears at ceremonies involving descendants of former Hawaiian royalty. In 1963, the Royal Guards consisted of 14 men. It has grown to a strength of 42.

Weapons

* Springfield 45-70 rifles

Ranks

* Kapena Moku (Captain) * Luna Koa (1st Lieutenant) * Lutanela (2nd Lieutenant) * He Kakiana (First Sergeant) * Kakiana Ekahi (Sergeant 1st Squad) * Kakiana Elua (Sergeant 2nd Squad) * Kakiana Ekolu (Sergeant 3rd Squad) * Kakiana Eha (Sergeant 4th Squad) * Kaiana Pu (Ordnance Sergeant) * Kapala Ekahi (Corporal 1st Squad) * Kopala Elua (Corporal 2nd Squad) * Kopala Ekolu (Corporal 3rd Squad) * Kopala Eha (Corporal 4th Squad) * Kopala Hae (Color Guard Corporal) * 1 Hookani Pahu (Drummer) * 27 Koa (Soldiers)

Uniform

* Navy Blue Jacket * White pants * White

Pith Helmet The pith helmet, also known as the safari helmet, salacot, sola topee, sun helmet, topee, and topi) is a lightweight cloth-covered helmet made of sholapith. The pith helmet originates from the Spanish military adaptation of the native '' salako ...

* Black Shoes

External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Royal Guards Of Hawaii Guards of honour Ceremonial units of the United States military

Military units and formations in Hawaii Military units and formations established in the 1800s Military units and formations disestablished in the 1890s Military units and formations established in 1962 Guards regiments Bodyguards Hawaiian Kingdom people Military of the Hawaiian Kingdom Governor of Hawaii