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Ali'i Letters
Exhibit Overview
Aliʻi Letters, 1823–1887
The Aliʻi Letters exhibit features more than 200 letters written by 33 aliʻi between 1823 and 1887. This project was created with Awaiaulu, Inc., whose work in transcription, translation, and annotation makes these primary texts accessible for research and exploration.
The letters reveal aliʻi voices on governance, relationships, travel, faith, land management, and daily life, offering a rare look at how Hawaiian leadership communicated across decades of change.
What You Will Find
- Personal and official correspondence by aliʻi
- Transcriptions and modern English translations
- Annotations providing historical context
Using These Letters
- Search by aliʻi name or date range
- Compare how topics like land, diplomacy, and family appear across letters
- Use the annotations to connect people, places, and events
Together, these letters preserve aliʻi perspectives across decades—supporting deep reading, historical insight, and research grounded in the words of the authors themselves.