Kamakahelei Foundation

08/23/2026

The Kamakahelei Foundation is proud to support The Food Basket, Inc. - Hawai'i Island's Food Bank and its essential mission to provide food assistance to individuals and families in need across Hawaiʻi Island.

Your tax-deductible donation to the Kamakahelei Foundation enables us to continue supporting The Food Basket and its vital work within local communities.

Learn more about its mission:
https://www.hawaiifoodbasket.org

Together, we can help ensure that no family goes without the essential support and nourishment they need.

Please consider making a donation today and joining our mission to strengthen the communities of Hawaiʻi.

Mahalo nui loa.

Hoʻoulu i ka pono, hoʻoulu i ke ola.
Cultivating goodness, nurturing life.

08/22/2026

The Kamakahelei Foundation is pleased to share the announcement of the elevation of our President, His Royal Highness Prince Darrick Lane Baker, to the dignity of Grand Cross of the Lafayette Order.

Conferred by the Lafayette Order of Wallis and Futuna, a legally constituted non-profit association registered with the Superior Administration of Wallis and Futuna, this associative distinction recognizes His Royal Highness’s dedication to leadership, service to others, human dignity, and friendship between peoples.

While distinct from an official decoration of the French Republic or the territorial authorities, this honour holds significance through the principles it represents and the recognition expressed by the association.

The entire Kamakahelei Foundation warmly congratulates its President on this meaningful distinction, which reflects the values of service, generosity, and international friendship at the heart of our mission.

Congratulations, Your Royal Highness!

Official Announcement

His Royal Highness Prince Darrick Lane Baker Elevated to the Dignity of Grand Cross of the Lafayette Order

The Lord Chamberlain’s Office is honoured to announce that His Royal Highness Prince Darrick Lane Baker, Head of the Royal House of Kamakahelei, has been elevated to the dignity of Grand Cross of the Lafayette Order.

The distinction was conferred on 15 February 2026 by decision of the Council of the Lafayette Order of Wallis and Futuna, upon the recommendation of its Chancellery.

The Lafayette Order of Wallis and Futuna is a legally constituted non-profit association governed by the French Law of 1 July 1901. Its creation was formally registered by the Superior Administration of the Islands of Wallis and Futuna on 3 December 2018 under registration number W9F1003654.

The distinction conferred is therefore an associative honour and not an official decoration of the French Republic or of the territorial authorities of Wallis and Futuna. Its value lies in the principles upheld by the association and in the recognition expressed by its members.

Inspired by the legacy of the Marquis de Lafayette, the association promotes service to others, human dignity, friendship between peoples, and attachment to the principles represented by the French Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen and the Constitution of the United States.

By conferring its highest dignity upon His Royal Highness, the association wished to recognize his exceptional merit, his dedication to service and leadership, and his commitment to fostering friendship and cooperation between peoples and institutions.

The Royal Household receives this meaningful distinction with gratitude and proudly congratulates Our Prince on this honour.

Congratulations, Your Royal Highness. May this distinction stand as a lasting tribute to your dedication, leadership, and service.

The Lord Chamberlain’s Office
Royal House of Kamakahelei

08/20/2026

THE ROYAL ORDER OF KAPIʻOLANI

THE ROYAL ORDER OF KAPIʻOLANI

The Royal Order of Kapiʻolani was instituted on 30 August 1880 by His Majesty King David Kalākaua, King of the Hawaiian Islands, in honour of his consort, Her Majesty Queen Kapiʻolani.

Created during the reign of King Kalākaua, the Order formed part of the system of Royal Orders through which the Hawaiian Crown recognized distinguished service, personal merit, loyalty, and devotion to the Kingdom and the Monarchy.

The establishment of the Order reflected the importance attached by King Kalākaua to royal ceremony, dynastic prestige, and the development of institutions capable of representing the dignity of the Hawaiian Crown both within the Kingdom and internationally.

The Order bore the name of Queen Kapiʻolani, one of the most prominent figures of the Hawaiian monarchy during the final decades of the nineteenth century. Born Kapiʻolani Napelakapuokakaʻe on 31 December 1834, she belonged to the highest ranks of the Hawaiian chiefly tradition and became Queen Consort following the accession of her husband, King Kalākaua, in 1874.

Queen Kapiʻolani devoted considerable attention to the welfare of the Hawaiian people, particularly to matters concerning health and the care of women and children. Her name became closely associated with charitable and humanitarian initiatives during the Hawaiian Kingdom.

The Royal Order bearing her name consequently combined the prestige of a royal distinction with the memory of a Queen whose public life was characterized by dignity, service, and devotion to her people.

During the reign of King Kalākaua, the Royal Order of Kapiʻolani was conferred upon Hawaiian and foreign recipients whose rank, service, or relationship with the Crown justified royal recognition. Like the other Orders of the Hawaiian monarchy, its bestowal formed part of the diplomatic and ceremonial practices through which Hawaiʻi expressed honour, friendship, and royal favour.

The Order also reflected the increasingly international character of the Hawaiian Court under King Kalākaua. The King maintained relations with numerous foreign sovereigns, governments, diplomats, and dignitaries, and Royal Orders played an important role in the exchanges of honours characteristic of nineteenth-century diplomacy.

Its insignia and ceremonial character belonged to the wider system of honours developed under the Hawaiian monarchy, alongside such distinctions as the Royal Order of Kamehameha I, the Royal Order of Kalākaua I, the Royal Order of the Crown of Hawaiʻi, and the Royal Order of the Star of Oceania.

The history of the Royal Order of Kapiʻolani therefore remains inseparable from the reign of King Kalākaua, the life and legacy of Queen Kapiʻolani, and the ceremonial and diplomatic traditions of the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi.

Following the overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy in 1893, the Royal Orders ceased to function as State Orders of the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi.

Today, their surviving insignia, documents, portraits, and historical records remain important witnesses to the institutions, diplomatic traditions, and royal heritage of nineteenth-century Hawaiʻi.

The Royal Order of Kapiʻolani consequently occupies a distinctive place in Hawaiian history, preserving through its name and surviving historical legacy the memory of Queen Kapiʻolani and of the monarchy she represented with dignity throughout the Kalākaua era.

Office of the Lord Chamberlain
Royal House of Kamakahelei

08/19/2026

The Kamakahelei Foundation shares this message of sympathy and support from His Royal Highness Prince Darrick Lane Baker to the people of Hawaiʻi following Storm Lala.

Our thoughts and prayers are with all those affected, as well as with the emergency services and volunteers assisting the communities.

Official Statement 🇺🇸🌺

His Royal Highness Prince Darrick Lane Baker has addressed a formal letter of sympathy and support to the Honorable Josh Green, M.D., Governor of the State of Hawaiʻi, the emergency services, and the people of Hawaiʻi following Storm Lala.

The full letter is reproduced below.

The Royal House of Kamakahelei
Household of the Lord Chamberlain

08/17/2026

PRESERVING AND TRANSMITTING HAWAIʻI’S HISTORICAL LEGACY

The Kamakahelei Foundation is pleased to share this historical article published by the Office of the Lord Chamberlain of the Royal House of Kamakahelei, highlighting an important photograph of His Majesty King David Kalākaua and Prince Colonel Robert Hoapili Baker aboard the USS Charleston in November 1890.

Beyond its significance for the history of the Hawaiian Monarchy, this photograph bears witness to the men who surrounded and served the Sovereign during the final months of his reign.

Preserving such memories, documenting them and making them accessible to future generations are essential to keeping Hawaiʻi’s historical and cultural heritage alive.

We invite you to discover the full article from the Office of the Lord Chamberlain below.

Kamakahelei Foundation
Preserving history, heritage and memory for future generations.

KING KALĀKAUA AND PRINCE COLONEL ROBERT HOAPILI BAKER

The Office of the Lord Chamberlain wishes to highlight this important photograph in the history of the Hawaiian Monarchy and of our Prince’s family.

This photograph was taken aboard the USS Charleston in November 1890, during His Majesty King David Kalākaua’s final journey to California. It is among the last photographic records of the Sovereign before his death in San Francisco on January 20, 1891.

King Kalākaua is seated in the foreground, surrounded by officers of the ship. Immediately behind the Sovereign stands Prince Colonel Robert Hoapili Baker (1847–1900), an ancestor of H.R.H. Prince Darrick Lane Hoapili Liloa Kamakahelei Baker.

Colonel Baker’s presence in this photograph is particularly significant. He was not merely an occasional or ceremonial figure at Court. Robert Hoapili Baker belonged to King Kalākaua’s close circle and was among the men entrusted with important responsibilities by the Sovereign.

A military officer, statesman and servant of the Crown, Robert Hoapili Baker held several important positions within the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi. He served as a Colonel on the King’s military staff and as Governor of Maui. He also held a prominent ceremonial role during the Coronation of King Kalākaua in 1883, further illustrating the position and confidence he enjoyed within the Royal Court.

This photograph therefore carries particular significance for our House. During the final months of Kalākaua’s reign, Robert Hoapili Baker was still there, immediately behind his King, among the close entourage accompanying the Sovereign.

Only weeks after this journey, King Kalākaua passed away in San Francisco, never to see his Kingdom again. His remains were subsequently returned to Honolulu aboard the USS Charleston.

For the Royal House of Kamakahelei, this image is therefore much more than a historical photograph. It recalls the personal service of an ancestor of our Prince to the Hawaiian Crown and bears witness to the place held by Robert Hoapili Baker among those who surrounded and served King Kalākaua.

The Office of the Lord Chamberlain considers the preservation, documentation and transmission of this history an important part of its mission, so that present and future generations may remember those who served the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi and better understand the historical legacy carried by our House today.

Office of the Lord Chamberlain
Royal House of Kamakahelei

Historical photograph: Hawaiʻi State Archives.

08/15/2026

The Kamakahelei Foundation joins the Royal House of Kamakahelei in expressing its full solidarity with the people of Hawaiʻi as Tropical Storm Lala approaches the Hawaiian Islands.

Our thoughts are with the families and communities preparing for potentially severe weather, and especially with those most exposed to strong winds, heavy rainfall, flooding and dangerous surf.

As a Foundation dedicated to serving and supporting the people of Hawaiʻi, we also express our gratitude to first responders, emergency personnel, volunteers and all those working to protect their communities.

We encourage everyone to remain vigilant, follow the guidance of the competent authorities, and take care of their families, neighbours and kūpuna.

In difficult moments, aloha, mālama and kōkua take on their fullest meaning: compassion, care and helping one another.

The Kamakahelei Foundation stands with Hawaiʻi and its people.

Stay safe. Stay prepared. Take care of one another.

Kamakahelei Foundation

THE ROYAL HOUSE OF KAMAKAHELEI STANDS WITH THE PEOPLE OF HAWAIʻI

The Royal House of Kamakahelei is closely following the development of Tropical Storm Lala, which is approaching the Hawaiian Islands and is expected to bring potentially severe weather conditions across the State this weekend.

With a hurricane warning in effect for the Island of Hawaiʻi and tropical storm warnings affecting the rest of the State, communities are preparing for strong winds, heavy rainfall, dangerous surf, and the possibility of flooding.

At this time, Their Royal Highnesses Prince Darrick Lane Baker and Princess Anna, together with the Royal Family and the Royal Household, wish to express their deepest solidarity and support to the people of Hawaiʻi.

Our thoughts are with every family and community preparing for the storm, particularly those in the areas most exposed to its effects. We also extend our gratitude and respect to emergency personnel, first responders, volunteers, public authorities, and all those working to protect and assist the population.

The Royal House encourages everyone to remain vigilant, follow official emergency instructions, prepare appropriately, and look after relatives, neighbours, kūpuna, and all those who may require assistance.

In moments such as these, the enduring Hawaiian values of aloha, mālama, and kōkua remind us of the strength found in compassion, care, and helping one another.

The Royal House of Kamakahelei stands with Hawaiʻi and its people.

May everyone remain safe.

The Office of the Lord Chamberlain
Royal House of Kamakahelei

08/13/2026

MAKE A DIFFERENCE - SUPPORT THE KAMAKAHELEI FOUNDATION
Every act of generosity matters.

The Kamakahelei Foundation is a U.S. 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization committed to charitable action and service to the people of Hawaiʻi.

Your donations support charitable initiatives benefiting people and communities in need throughout Hawaiʻi.

Whether helping vulnerable individuals and families, supporting communities facing hardship, or contributing to local charitable initiatives, your generosity allows us to turn compassion into meaningful action.

A donation does not have to be large to make a difference. Even a few dollars can help improve someone’s daily life. When many people give what they can, small contributions become a powerful collective force.

For our supporters in the United States, donations to the Kamakahelei Foundation are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by U.S. law.

$5, $10, $25, or more... every contribution matters.

By supporting the Kamakahelei Foundation, you are helping the people of Hawaiʻi who need it most.

Give today. Help a family. Support a community. Change a life.
After making your donation, please remember to email us at

[email protected]

with your contact details and a few words about your support. We would be honored to know the individuals and friends whose generosity makes our charitable work possible.

Mahalo for your generosity and support.

Kamakahelei Foundation
U.S. 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Organization

Help support The Kamakahelei Foundation by donating or sharing with your friends.

08/12/2026

The Kamakahelei Foundation joins the Office of the Lord Chamberlain in expressing its deepest sorrow and heartfelt solidarity with the people of Colombia.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the bereaved families, the injured, the missing, and all those affected by this devastating earthquake.

We pay tribute to the emergency responders and volunteers working tirelessly to save lives and bring comfort to those in need.

🇨🇴 May Colombia find strength, courage, and hope in the difficult days ahead.

Today, the Office of the Lord Chamberlain has issued an official Statement of Solidarity following the devastating earthquake in Colombia.

On behalf of Their Royal Highnesses Prince Darrick Lane Baker and Princess Anna Baker, we extend our heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and express our deepest compassion for the injured, the missing, and all those facing grief and uncertainty.

We also pay tribute to the emergency responders and volunteers working tirelessly to save lives and bring comfort to those in need.

🇨🇴 May the people of Colombia find strength, courage, and hope in the difficult days ahead.

Office of the Lord Chamberlain
Royal House of Kamakahelei

08/11/2026

The Kamakahelei Foundation is proud to highlight its President and Vice-President, Their Royal Highnesses Prince Darrick Lane Baker and Princess Anna.

Through their dedication and commitment, Their Royal Highnesses continue to guide the Foundation in its charitable, cultural, and humanitarian mission, in Hawaiʻi and beyond.
“Ua mau ke ea o ka ʻāina i ka pono.”
“The life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness.”
- King Kamehameha III

With our deepest respect and aloha to our President and Vice-President. 🌺

Royal House of Kamakahelei - Hawaiʻi

Their Royal Highnesses Prince Darrick Lane Baker and Princess Anna, devoted to the preservation of Hawaiian heritage, traditions, and the spirit of service and aloha.

“Ua mau ke ea o ka ʻāina i ka pono.”
“The life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness.”
- King Kamehameha III

08/10/2026

THE ROYAL ORDER OF THE CROWN OF HAWAIʻI

The Kamakahelei Foundation is honoured to share this presentation by the Office of the Lord Chamberlain dedicated to the Royal Order of the Crown of Hawaiʻi.

Heir to the great traditions of the Hawaiian Crown, the Order today holds a distinctive place within the Royal House of Kamakahelei: it is reserved exclusively for members and personnel of the Royal Household, recognizing loyalty, dedication, integrity, and distinguished service to the Prince, the Royal Family, and the institutions of the House.

Through those who serve with honour and devotion, the traditions and heritage of the Hawaiian Crown continue to be preserved and carried forward.

🌺 Ho‘omau i ka hoʻoilina - Continuing the legacy.
Kamakahelei Foundation

THE ROYAL ORDER OF THE CROWN OF HAWAIʻI

The Royal Order of the Crown of Hawaiʻi was instituted on 12 September 1882 by His Majesty King David Kalākaua, Sovereign of the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi.

Created during the reign of King Kalākaua, the Order formed part of the system of royal honours of the Hawaiian monarchy. It was intended to recognize distinguished service and to honour individuals whose loyalty, merit and devotion contributed to the dignity and prestige of the Hawaiian Crown and Kingdom.

The establishment of the Order reflected the importance King Kalākaua placed upon the institutions, traditions and international standing of the Hawaiian monarchy. His reign was marked by a deliberate strengthening of royal ceremonial and by the development of institutions capable of expressing Hawaiʻi’s status as an independent sovereign kingdom.

The Order of the Crown occupied a distinctive place within this system of honours. Through its association with the Crown itself, it represented royal recognition of service, fidelity and merit rendered to the Sovereign and the Kingdom.

Its insignia incorporated the Hawaiian Crown as its principal symbol. The Crown represented sovereignty, royal authority and the continuity of the monarchy, while also recalling the duties and responsibilities associated with service to the Sovereign.

The Order also reflected the broader ceremonial culture of the Hawaiian Court during the Kalākaua era, when royal orders and decorations played an important role in recognizing service and strengthening diplomatic and institutional relationships both within Hawaiʻi and internationally.
Following the overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy in 1893, the Royal Order of the Crown of Hawaiʻi became part of the historical legacy of the Kingdom and its system of royal honours.

Today, its history remains an important testimony to the institutions, ceremonial traditions and symbols of sovereignty that characterized the Hawaiian Kingdom during the reign of King Kalākaua. It recalls an era in which Hawaiʻi stood as an internationally recognized sovereign kingdom with its own Crown, government, diplomatic relations, honours and royal institutions.

Office of the Lord Chamberlain
Royal House of Kamakahelei