Royal Guard of the Hawaii National Guard
The islands of Hawaii are geographically and historically disconnected from the New England‑Colonial past with which most residents of continental America identify. The "kamaaina," or local resident, links his background to the statue of the Polynesian warrior that stands before the Judiciary Building, not to that of the Minuteman in a New England town square. Many Hawaiian families plot their genealogies back to missionary forebears who arrived in Hawaii on the "Thaddeus," not in Massachusetts on the "Mayflower." When discussion turns to military exploits, the Hawaiian recounts the battle of Nuuanu Pali, not Gettysburg, and he speaks of Kamehameha and Kahekili with the same fervor that others reserve for Grant and Lee.
The Royal Guard is a unit which was re‑created to highlight Hawaii's own military heritage. The Royal Guardsman of Hawaii, like the Minuteman of the Continent, is the symbol with which our people identify and from which they draw strength.
The unit is the Hawaii Air National Guard's (HANG) contribution to the community's restoration of Hawaii's historic Kalakaua era. The Royal Guard represents a very successful means by which HANG identifies itself with the unique heritage of our Island‑State.
The original Royal Guard was formed during the reign of King Kalakaua in the late 1800's. It was an elite group of 50 men from which the King's body guards were drawn, with a heritage which extended far back into Hawaii's history. The organization was quartered in Iolani Barracks, next door to the royal palace.
The re‑created Royal Guard is the product of countless hours of research and the subsequent time required to re‑create or recondition its authentic period equipment. The unit is structured in the same way as the original organization. The governing body, or "Na Koa Hoomalu Kini 0 Ka Moi" (King's Body Guards), is composed of five men elected by the general membership. The five men, in turn, select the "Kapena Moku" (Commander of Troops). In addition, they establish policies, approve plans and review operations. The unit includes:
(1) Three Officers:
Kapena Moku (Captain)
Luna Koa (1st Lieutenant)
Lutanela (2nd Lieutenant)
(2) Six Sergeants:
He Kakiana (First Sergeant)
Kakiana Ekahi (Sergeant ‑ lst Squad)
Kakiana Elua (Sergeant ‑ 2nd Squad)
Kakiana Ekolu (Sergeant ‑ 3rd Squad)
Kakiana Eha (Sergeant*‑ 4th Squad)
Kaiana Pu(Ordnance Sergeant)
(3) Five Corporals:
Kapala Ekahi (Corporal ‑ Ist Squad)
Kopala Elua (Corporal ‑ 2nd Squad)
Kopala Ekolu (Corporal ‑ 3rd Squad)
Kopala Eha (Corporal ‑ 4th Squad)
Kopala Hae (Color Guard Corporal)
(4) One Drummer:
Hookani Pahu
(5) Twenty‑seven Soldiers Koa
All Royal Guardsmen are members of HANG. They are of Hawaiian descent (to add to the unit's authenticity) and participate on a purely voluntary basis.
The project was begun in 1962 by Colonel Walter F. Judd, executive officer of HANG, whose forebears served as cabinet members during the reign of the Hawaii Kings, Kamehameha III, Liholiho, and Kalakaua. Colonel Judd began the project with a search of the State Archives. Pictures of the original Guard and a part of an old tunic were used to begin the re‑creation of the uniforms. Authentic buttons and a buckle were found and replicas were made by open‑faced casting. Most items were donated or made, or in some cases, acquired by shrewd trading. When equipment or apparel had to be purchased, Colonel Judd and his group raised the money with an assortment of projects, including a benefit luau. On November 16, 1963, the first 14 members of the re‑created Royal Guard were presented to the public. They emerged from the doors of Iolani Barracks, heralded by the trumpeting of the traditional Hawaiian conch shell. In the words of a reporter, "They peered around curiously as if seeing the light of day for the first time in seventy years."
The program has grown since 1963. The unit was increased in 1967 to include 42 men after $5,000 was appropriated by the State legislature for the purchases of new rifles and uniforms. The Royal Guard now serves at the call of the Governor for official State functions. It has also made many appearances at civic ceremonies commemorating Hawaii's past.
Since the November afternoon in 1963, the command, "Hapai‑Pu," (Carry Arms) has been heard throughout the State, and the manual of arms for the Springfield 45‑70 rifles has been performed on each major island, as well as in the streets of the Nation's Capitol, during the inauguration of Presidents Johnson and Nixon.
The Royal Guard is the living link between today's jet-equipted organization and the Polynesian past so familiar to the man on the street. It bridges a complex identity gap perfectly. The impact of the re-creation of the Royal Guard on the community was best described by Hawaii's Governor, John A. Burns when he said, "The traditions of the past are, to me, means by which we gain strength to meet the trials of the present and the future."
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